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Once homeless, Army veteran Mike Biggs (right) turned to the 2015 Operation: Stand Down for help. In 2016, he returned with a new job—helping provide financial aid counseling to veterans in need.

A year ago, Army veteran Mike Biggs attended Operation: Stand Down while down on his luck and in need of assistance.

“After a string of incidents in my life, I was homeless and living on the streets of Newport, Ky.,” said Biggs. year ago, Army veteran Mike Biggs attended
Operation: Stand Down while down on his luck and in need of assistance.

Biggs now works as a financial aid officer for the Brighton Center, a nonprofit social service provider in Newport that helped support this year’s event, facilitated by DAV, the VA and community partners. Having been on what he calls the “other side of the table,” Biggs credits DAV and the 2015 stand down with helping him on a path to stability.

“When I was at this event last year I was seeking information, and this year I am providing it,” said Biggs. “If it had not been for the services provided to me that day, such as clothing, information and opportunity, I don’t know where my life would be today. I was able to have these opportunities through DAV and the fine work they do.”

DAV hosted the 2016 Operation: Stand Down on Oct. 14 at its national headquarters in Cold Spring, Ky., to assist homeless veterans in the Northern Kentucky, southern Ohio and southeastern Indiana areas by providing critical services and connecting them with resources to address their immediate and long-term needs.

This is the first time the local annual event was held at DAV’s national headquarters.

“It makes perfect sense to bring the stand down to our own backyard,” said DAV National Adjutant Marc Burgess. “This is the best venue to remind veterans and the public about our continuing mission of service to veterans and families.”

DAV National Voluntary Services Director John Kleindienst said Biggs’ story illustrates the reasons why DAV chapters across the country host veteran homeless stand down events.

“It’s important that our fellow veterans know we’re there for them and that their community is going to make every effort to make sure none of our own will be left behind,” he said.

Studies indicate that several factors can lead to veteran homelessness, including unemployment, separation or divorce, mental health issues and substance-abuse problems. Often, the overarching issue is a service-connected disability. The one-stop shop style services offered at stand downs are designed to put veterans on the path to living normal and fulfilling lives.

“It’s having all of your eggs in one basket,” said Army veteran Clinton Napier, who served from 1990 to 1993. “I was able to get a flu shot and some help with dental work.”

For all the help these events provide, Burgess said the ultimate goal is to significantly reduce the need for stand downs.

“Our end goal is to continue to combat veteran homelessness. We’ll keep working with our community partners until there’s not a need to have as many of these events,” he said.

Biggs, now back on the path to success, wanted his fellow veterans to know it is never too late to seek the help they may need.

“I am proud to encourage other veterans to attend events like this,” he said. “Although we can get knocked down, we can get up again. I did—even at 57 years old.”