VETERANS GET LEG UP IN WEEKEND EVENT.Byline: Daily News VENTURA -- Veterans in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, , many of them homeless or in search of help, are gathering this weekend for the three-day Ventura County Stand Down, part of a nationwide effort to help them improve their lives. The event is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Affairs is a term of the business that deals with the relation between a government and its veteran communities, usually administered by the designated government agency. to provide services to veterans who are homeless or in need of special outreach. The 14th annual Ventura County Stand Down opened Friday and is scheduled to continue today. The term stand down comes from the time during war when exhausted combat units take time to rest and recover by finding a place of relative security and safety removed from the battlefield. The Stand Down program now refers to a community-based intervention effort involving Veterans Affairs, various other government agencies and community groups that help homeless veterans find relief from life on the streets. ``It's a very successful program,'' said Clare Hope, chairwoman of the Ventura County Stand Down, who said it usually draws more than 100 participants from San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo (săn l  `ĭs ōbĭs`pō), city (1990 pop. 41,958), seat of San Luis Obispo co., S Calif., near San Luis Obispo Bay; inc. 1856. , Santa Barbara Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. , Ventura and Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. counties. Many come on buses from communities like Lompoc, Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. , Thousand Oaks and Santa Maria to the Stand Down site at the National Guard Armory at 1270 Arundell Ave. ``Sometimes it takes more than one Stand Down to get them off the street,'' Hope said. ``It's very rewarding, something we really look forward to every year to help our veterans, and it's wonderful to see them come back as volunteers.'' ``Some need a pair of glasses, sometimes it's a Social Security card,'' said Hope, explaining that the Stand Down offers myriad services, including health screenings and referrals to agencies that can help them with housing, employment, substance abuse or legal problems. The American Red Cross American Red Cross: see Red Cross. will use its new disaster mass care mobile kitchen to prepare breakfast and lunch for the veterans today. CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Veterans rest inside one of the many tents while waiting for services Friday during the 14th annual Ventura County Stand Down in Ventura. (2 -- 3) A veteran takes a nap Friday during the 14th annual Ventura County Stand Down in Ventura. More than 100 veterans from San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura and parts of Los Angeles will take advantage of services including medical treatment, legal services legal services n. the work performed by a lawyer for a client. , housing, employment counseling and free clothing at the National Guard Armory in Ventura. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News |
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