Fourth-annual Seattle Stand Down gives vital help to veterans in need
Expanded two-day event to assist more at-risk veterans with housing, jobs
Hundreds of at-risk veterans in our community will have access to much-needed help and support when the fourth-annual Seattle Stand Down takes place on the campus of Seattle Central College. The community-driven event, held for the first time over two days on Dec. 11 and 12, brings together more than 50 non-profits, social service organizations and government agencies to provide a range of vital services, all under one roof.
“Seattle Central is proud to help stage this event, which gives our veterans, who have given so much to defend our country, a hand up, not a hand-out. We need to do everything we can to help these brave men and women get back on their feet and stay there,” said Paul T. Killpatrick, Ph.D., president of Seattle Central.
With a special focus on housing, employment and legal aid, the expanded Stand Down allows organizers to offer more in-depth assistance, providing a better opportunity to resolve certain issues over the two days of the event.
“Last year, we surveyed veterans and found that they came to the event homeless and unemployed, and that’s how they left,” said Executive Director Rebecca Murch. “This year we’re trying to shift the Stand Down away from being just a resource fair into one that offers more services here at the event that can change veterans’ lives for the better.”
According to recent estimates, veterans comprise over 10 percent of the homeless population in King County. Staff at the Stand Down will assess veterans individually for housing options and help them navigate the process to secure assistance.
To help veterans find jobs, workshops on resume writing and interviewing will be held, and vets will get outfitted with professional clothing like dress shirts, ties and suits. On the second day, they will have an opportunity to interview with employers in a variety of fields for positions that can help them on the path to supporting themselves.
New this year, the Northwest Justice Center and the Washington State Bar Association are sponsoring an on-site legal clinic, where lawyers will provide pro bono legal advice.
Vets will also have access to hot meals, hygiene items, medical screenings and warm clothing. Representatives from the Veterans Administration (VA) will be on hand to ensure veterans are registered for benefits they are entitled to. A separate area will be available for female veterans where they can feel safe and comfortable.
The Seattle Stand Down is coordinated and led by student veterans currently attending nearby colleges, including members of Seattle Central’s Student Veterans Association.
WHAT: The fourth-annual Seattle Stand Down, an event to help at-risk veterans in the community with a variety of support services.
WHEN: This year’s event has expanded to two days, held on Thursday, Dec. 11 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday, Dec. 12 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHERE: Seattle Central College’s Mitchell Activity Center, 1718 Broadway in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
TRANSPORTATION: Free parking will be available in the garage at the corner of E. Pine Street and Harvard Avenue.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Organizations, individuals and agencies that would like to make tax-deductible contributions, provide services or volunteer should visit www.theseattlestanddown.org. Donations of gently-used professional clothing suitable for job interviews are especially needed.
About Seattle Central: Chosen by over 16,000 students each year, Seattle Central College offers a comprehensive range of educational programs and opportunities for academic transfer, workplace preparation, basic skills and continuing education in an urban environment. Visit us online at www.seattlecentral.edu.