Veterans event stresses homeless care services
Friday afternoon marked the first Butler County Stand Down for Homeless Veterans event held in the county for more than 20 years.
The event, which lasted from noon to 4 p.m. at VA Butler Healthcare, included about 45 vendors offering free haircuts, medical screenings and other services to veterans and the public.
Only half way through the afternoon, about 130 people had registered. There were 82 veterans, and 13 identified as homeless.
Christina Beaver, Veteran’s Outreach coordinator at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said events like Stand Down can let the veteran community know about the resources available to them.
“It’s all about helping them,” Beaver said. “There’s no reason for someone to be on the streets.”
In addition to the vendors that veterans visited, they could participate in a “mindfulness and movement” (M&M) session led by Denina Bautti-Cascio, owner of Sage Action Consulting. The series of breathing and moving exercises, which can be done nearly anywhere by people of any age or physical ability, can relax and get someone in the present moment.
“Get off the hamster wheel. You’re not getting anywhere,” Bautti-Cascio said.
She explains that through these sessions, she can set aside things that are bothering her, if only for a short time. She attended the event because she thought veterans could benefit from something like this.
Homeless veterans may reach the VA’s National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838. It is free to all veterans, whether or not they are registered with the VA.
