Homeless veterans given a clean slate: Monterey County Stand Down happens all weekend

The number of homeless veterans across America is in the thousands.

It’s a problem that the Monterey County Veterans Transition Center and the United Veterans Council is taking into their hands to help get local vets back on their feet.

Starting Friday, the Monterey County Fairgrounds began a three day event providing meals, event housing, counseling, legal services, health and dental services, and VA claims assistance.

Event coordinator, Tom Griffin, said an event like this costs about $150,000, the majority of which comes from donations.

“We want to give them access to the services that will get them off the street, and give them a hand up, and we have a whole compendium of services to do that,” said Griffin.

One of the veterans to attend the stand down, Chau Tren, said he is excited to get a clean slate here.

Tren joined the U.S. Army in 2014. While training for service, he battled a drug addiction. After the army kicked him out, he found himself on the streets.

Now, he’s enrolled in a VA treatment program. He says they are helping him to recover and provide him the medical attention he needs. “They’ve taught me a new way to live,” said Tren.

The VA treatment is what led Tren to the stand down. Griffin said veterans like Tren are who they do this for. “It gives them hope because otherwise they’re out there thinking nobody cares for me,” said Griffin.

Griffin said 171 homeless veterans have already registered, and they expect more to come as the weekend continues.

For more information on how to register for the stand down, visit www.montereystanddown.org.