Homeless veterans can get free aid today

[The Straight Story]

Homeless veterans can get free aid today
By Jewell Cardwell
Beacon Journal columnist

Final call to Summit County's homeless/displaced military veterans.

A warm and loving event --Stand Down -- is being planned by the Summit County Veterans Service Commission to honor and help you. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at VFW Post 3383, 690 W. Waterloo Road, Akron (Ohio).

Free haircuts, clothing, lunches, health screenings and information are all on the menu.

An enthusiastic LaVerne Ayers of Akron, who has knitted several hats for the project, recently shared the news that 132 pairs of cotton gloves had come in from Idaho. "Another donation of 50-plus yards of wool was sewn into 192 long, warm scarves. Members of Double I Quilt Guild of Cuyahoga Falls offered to sew and knit items. Many donations of toiletries and clothing came in from Keep It Simple Stupid quilt guild of Akron members.''

Veterans are asked to bring proof of their service.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/15550980.htm

Damn sad we have so many homeless veterans.

[catnhatnh]

1. "Veterans are asked to bring proof of their service."....

Frickin morons....the only real acceptable proof of service is a DD-214...A printed piece of paper in many cases over 20/30 years old-and this from the homeless with both other issues in many cases or lack of archival storage...Do I have mine from '73? Yeah, but then as a non-combat vet and home owner, I have both no ptsd/outdoor livin'/mental health problems and my bedroom closet is, at least in the short term, archival storage...Better plan? Have these people screened by veterans of different services and eras.Believe me I have no problem detecting "army veteran" bullshitters from, say '68 to '76 or so.And your downside would be what??? A half dozen haircuts, donated clothing, meals, health screenings and maybe knitted scarves going to-GASP- undeserving homeless????Grow up people-yeah, some of the homeless WILL lie to get free stuff-is that reason enough to turn away or dissuade one REAL VETERAN???

[sandnsea]

2. I agree

I was reading an article a few weeks ago about homeless men in NV & CO. Lo and behold, the cheapest and best solution for the homeless is - to just give them a damn home! All other assistance works better once people are secure in their own home. But no, we spend as much qualifying people for assistance as we do actually giving it because all those folks clamoring for their tax cut would give it all up for a free studio in a bad neighborhood.