DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) – The VA North Texas Healthcare System will help hundreds of homeless veterans Saturday afternoon.
The agency’s Dean Cromwell said the annual “Stand Down for Homeless Veterans” has a big impact on the men and women who’ve served the country but have fallen through the cracks.
“We’re able to get veterans housed, we’re able to get them hooked up with employment opportunities, help meet their mental health or medical needs and get them in touch with any community services they may need,” he said.
The agency said they counted 362 homeless veterans in Dallas in 2017. Sixty of those men and women are considered chronically homeless.
Cromwell said the agency has made outreach a priority when it comes to helping homeless vets.
“Going out to the different encampments under the bridges and underpasses trying to find these veterans…trying to provide them the services that they need to get them off the streets,” he said.
Cromwell said the largest issue facing homeless vets is affordable housing and finding long-term employment. It’s a situation he said public awareness can help combat.
“Realizing that we do have a need in serving those who served our country and seeing if there’s anything the community can do in finding housing opportunities,” said Cromwell.
The event being held at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Center from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
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