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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 05162006 - D.3 o � FHS #56 Contra TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Costa FROM: Family and Human Services Committee '�;,, �'� �' ,Yo County DATE: May 16, 2006 CUU�� SUBJECT: East Bay Stand Down for Homeless Veterans 2006 SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION CONSIDER supporting the East Bay Stand Down (EBSD) for Homeless Veterans to be held August 10 through 13, 2006 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pieasaiiton'. FISCAL IMPACT None. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION The East Bay Stand Down for Homeless Veterans (EBSD) is an extraordinary event supported by over one thousand dedicated volunteers. Veterans and their families from the San Francisco Bay Area have the opportunity to receive invaluable and diverse services and care in a safe, secure environment. The goal is to assist homeless veterans to end the cycle of homelessness by bringing to one location transitional housing opportunities, medical and dental care, legal services, benefits counseling, food, clothing, entertainment and many other services. Most importantly, the participants receive this care in a respectful manner and they are not forgotten. Attached is an executive summary of the 2006 Stand Down with a volunteer form on the reverse side. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR_X_RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE _OTHER SIGNATURE(S): Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier Sup6rvisor Federal Glover ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED C OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact: Gary Villalba, 001, (925) 313-1481 ATTESTED brig. Dept.: Veterans Services JOHN)VLLEN, CLERK OF cc: County Administrator THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR r BY Y Vill Veterans Service Office Contra Co nttyDVe eranslService Officer 10 Douglas Drive,#100 Costa Jill M. Martinez Martinez,CA 94553-4078 Branch Office Manager (925)313-1481County Richmond (925)313-1490 Fax ❑100-37th Street,#1033 tE---------- Richmond, ----:_--Richmond,CA 94805-2179 (510)374-3241 _ (510)374-7955 FAX April 3, 2006 s sTa co'uK•� Supervisor Mark DeSaulmer, District 4 Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District 5 Family and Human Services Committee Referral #56 — East Bay Stand Down for Homeless Veterans Recommendation: Request Board of Supervisors support for the East Bay Stand Down (EBSD) to be held August 10 through 13, 2006 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton, CA. (Information document attached) As a volunteer and member of the Executive Board for EBSD, I am please to present an overview and a 17 minute video or DVD if time permits. The video/DVD production was produced by Contra Costa Television (CCTV) from a grant obtained by the County Veterans Services Department with financial assistance from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Ladies Auxiliary Post 6435 in Antioch. Background: The EBSD is an extraordinary event supported by over one thousand dedicated volunteers. Homeless veterans and their families from the San Francisco Bay Area have an opportunity to receive invaluable and diverse services and care in a safe, secure environment. The goal is to assist homeless veterans to end the cycle of homelessness by bringing into one location transitional housing opportunity, medical/dental care, legal services, benefits counseling, food, clothing, entertainment and many other services. And most important, our participants receive this care in a respectful manner and we let them know they are not forgotten. Thank you for your past support of this worthy endeavor! Gary Villalba Director, Veterans Services 5 Executive Summary Stand Down is a-term used during war to describe the practice' of removing combat troops from the field and.taking care of their basic needs in a.safe area. The East Bay Stand Down brings needy and homeless veterans into a safe, if only temporary, encampment for the same purpose. The East Bay Stand Down has been sponsored by a broad base of community agencies led by the Concord Vet Center of the US Department of Veteran Affairs, The .Rotary Clubs in the East Bay Counties; the Viet Nam Veterans of Diablo Valley and the_Ladies Auxiliary VFW,Post 6435,Antioch. Corporate.Sponsors have included Eli Lilly & Company, SBC, Peet's Coffee, Roche Pharmaceuticals and others. Significant support is received from the different branches of the U.S. Military led by the U.S.Army Reserves 2"d Medical Brigade. Nationally there-are over 250,000 needy.and homeless veterans. ._Within, the nine San.Francisco Bay Area counties, theDepartment of Veterans Affaii's.(VA) estimates that.there are over 7,000 needy or homeless veterans.' In the. Northem California.area, estimates are. as high as 15,000 or more. A significant number of.these_veterans have had.little or,no contact with the.VA foreither monetaryor medical benefits. Nor have they had much contact with any other agency offering assistance. Aiding or helping to improve their situations, especially for combat veterans, is.a_difficult:process, but one, which cannot be ignored. Since the first Stand Down was held in San Diego, in -11 988: , Stand Downs have taken place.in over 200 cities nationwide. Over 100,000 veterans and their families have benefited from Stand Downs. These events have.proved.to be:very effective in breaking the cycle of homelessness among`veterans and.their families.. During the East Bay Stand Down, a"tent city"is setup to house as many as:500 Veterans, men and women, and their families.'In total, approximately 1200 to 1500 volunteers,militaryreservists.and . civilian,contribute their time and services throughout the planning and conduct of the event.An IRT (Innovative Readiness Training) Project was funded through the USAR 63d RRC to provide funding for military support.during the:2002&2004 events. Another IRT is being developed tlirough the 2°Med Brigade for 2006. Other funding is primarily through monetary and in-kind donations. All monetary donations will be applied to the;needs.of the veterans.. No donated money will be used for salaries. All donations are tax deductible. All participants are pre-registered and screened prior to admission to the event, to.ensure veteran status and eligibility. The participants are bussed in from various. points.throughout.the Bay Area and transported to the event site. Upon arrival at the "tent citythe veterans receive food, clothing, shelter, showers and haircuts. Health Care providers will be present at the Stand Down to assist with physical and mental health needs. Counselors will also be available to work with veterans regarding substance abuse, employment options,veterans' benefits and spiritual concerns. Service providers are at the veteran's 'doorstep: Typically, a' homeless person must spend inordinate amounts of time and energy going from one service agency to.another. Often, duplicate efforts cause frustration and alienation from the very agencies and processes designed to help them.. Often, fearing arrest, or a fine,a veteran will not seek help of any type because of.minor civil offenses. A Stand Down Court is set up to adjudicate these offences, with Superior Court judges from several participating counties. These magistrates help overcome many of these obstacles.The objectives of the East Bay Stand Down are to place the participants into residential programs, offer employment opportunities,'and to provide follow-up programs of various types. The 2006 event is planned for August 10 through 13. We will be relocating to the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA. Our public planning meetings.will be held on the third Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at locations to be announced on Website. Executive Chair: Denver Mills 925 680 4526 Director: Jerry Yahiro 92574 38850 Assistant Director of Programs Don Rinker 510 637 6280 Assistant Director of Logistics Mike Weber 925 648 5346 w%xw.eastbaystanddown.oM 1 1 EAST Alf STAND DOWN 1899 Clayton Rd. Suite 140 Concord CA. 94520 y (925) 680 4526 or 743 8850 fax (925) 680-0410 some ways to help Yes,I would like to make a $1.00, $5:00, $10.00(or more(D) donation. -Please make out '+. your donation to the Vietnam Veteran of Diablo valley-EBSD. Tax deductible under IRS 501[c]19 Tax ID 68- 026636.9/CA Tax Section,23701(d)ID 1812156-and Mail to:Stand Down c/o Vet Center- 1899 Clayton Road, Suite 140 Concord 94520. If you area corporation,our IRS 501[c]3 co-sponsor is The Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary Foundation,Tax JD 68-0441952. I /MY,Organization /My Company would like to s. onsor a.tent..-_Individuals_and non- profit organizations can sponsor a tent for$500 and Companies may do so for$1,000. Placards with individual names or memorialized names can be placed in front of one of the tents at the event. Company or organization banners with their names and logos can be placed at the tent or at the event to show,your support. All sponsors, 1 unless they specify anonymity,will be listed in public relations information materials regarding the event. Contact the EBSD Director @(925)680 4526 for more information. O I/My Organization/My Company would.like to be a co-sponsor of the East Bay Stand Down. With a minimum donation of$5,000.00,a co-sponsorship of the event is available to a limited 3 Onumber of organizations. .Larger.donations would entitle the organization to be listed as a major sponsor. I would/My Organization would./My Company would like to sponsor and/or serve a meal at the event. An individual or organization can purchase,plan,prepare,serve and share a meal with the participating veterans and the other volunteers. Be sure to wear something to let the people know whom you represent! Contact EBSD @(925).680 4526. y O I have/My Organization has /My Company has services and items that would _ be helpful for the event. -The donation of services and equipment saves money:to be used for other things: EBSD needs: Busses and drivers,portable toilets and wash stations,tables and chairs,ice,soft drinks, clowns,musicians,ping pong tables and a myriad of other things. Let as know what you have available. Call EBSD office at(925)680 4526. OI would like to volunteer to help in any other way!-EBSD needs people to help with the many tasks,before during and after the event: Many hands make little work. Please fill in the info below and sign up with our volunteer coordinators. Contact the EBSD at(925)680 4526 or go to our website at www.castbaystanddown.org Please fill out and return to the address at the top of this page. NAME(PLEASE PRINT): ADDRESS: TEL.NUMBER: EMAIL: Website: www.eastbaystanddown.org