David Bowman received a free haircut, vision test and flu shot at the 19th annual Homeless Veterans Stand Down on Thursday at the Colorado National Guard Armory.
The Army veteran said he loved the convenience of one-stop shopping for everything he needs.
"If you don't have bus tokens, it's hard to get to any of the employment services," said Bowman, who lives at the Beacon Place homeless shelter on West Colfax Avenue.
On Thursday morning, the range of services included help with housing, food, employment, clothing, health screenings, and counseling for Social Security and Veteran Affairs benefits. ARC thrift stores donated clothes, and another company donated sleeping bags. There were tables filled with boots, along with piles of socks, underwear and warm winter gloves.
Colorado National Guard chaplain Col. Andy Meverden, there to help with any spiritual needs, said the phrase "homeless veterans" evokes particular emotion in Americans.
"These guys have done a lot of heavy lifting for our nation," he said. "A lot of homeless veterans have nonphysical injuries, and we feel for them a combination of pity and gratitude. For them to end up here, it's counterintuitive — not the way it should be."
The Homeless Veterans Stand Down, sponsored nationwide by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, drew 481 clients in Denver this year, up from 467 last year. In the Denver metro area, there are 2,400 homeless veterans, according to Rebecca Smith, spokeswoman for the local VA office.
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http://www.denverpost.com/dontmiss/ci_13725540?source=rsshomemiss
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