Army veteran Donnie Lionberger has attended the annual DAV Homeless Veterans Stand Down since 2022. He started attending as a participant but now goes to talk with and support veterans experiencing homelessness. He credits the stand down with being part of his recovery.

For years, Army veteran Donnie Lionberger was homeless and faced addiction, unemployment and separation from his family.

He said he felt broken down and had nowhere to go when, in August 2022, he reached out to Joseph House, a Cincinnati-based treatment facility for veterans struggling with addiction and homelessness. Joseph House receives support from the DAV Charitable Service Trust.

While at Joseph House, Lionberger attended the annual DAV Homeless Veterans Stand Down for the first time.

In partnership with the Cincinnati Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, DAV hosts the stand down at its national headquarters in Erlanger, Kentucky, for veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness in the Greater Cincinnati area, connecting them with local programs and resources.

Lionberger credits what he learned from the stand down as being part of his recovery. Since attending in 2022, he’s filed VA claims through DAV, connected with the VA to receive care for several medical issues, fixed problems with his service discharge and has been sober for more than three years.

“I love this stand down. It brings veterans in off the streets for a day where they can get the resources they need—every resource in the world is here—that can help them. It’s just an awesome thing,” he said. “I’m the example of what the [stand down] can do for you.”

More than 200 veterans attended this year’s event, which featured more than 60 vendors, including Joseph House.

Several dozen volunteers, many of whom are DAV employees or elected leaders, welcomed participants by serving hot meals, distributing care bags and guiding them through the vendor booths set up throughout the building.

Veterans could access both immediate and long-term resources and support, such as health care screenings, flu shots, haircuts, legal aid, benefits counseling and employment resources.

DAV National Commander Coleman Nee joined more than 200 volunteers at DAV National Headquarters to serve lunch, distribute care bags and connect stand down participants to local resources.

“We want to break the cycle,” said DAV National Commander Coleman Nee. “There’s a pathway forward, and we want everyone to know that.”

Nee emphasized that the event is meant to be just the beginning of that support.

“We’re not just saying, ‘Good luck. We’ll see you next year at the stand down,’” he said. “Today’s the introduction. The long-term relationship begins now as we help them build their lives.”

For Michael Angel, that commitment to help and the support offered is a far cry from the isolation he once felt.

“I’ve never been to a place like this,” he said. “I think it’s amazing. We know that there are people who care about us. I’m very happy to be here—very fortunate. There were times I thought there’s nobody out there to help me. You feel so alone and abandoned.”

After Angel left the Ohio Army National Guard in 2018, he began using prescription medications then methamphetamines.

“It took about three or four years for drugs and alcohol to completely wipe everything from me,” Angel said.

He lost his car, his support system and his housing. Then he ended up in jail, where he spent 49 days before receiving a court order remanding him to Joseph House.

Ohio Army National Guard veteran Michael Angel receives a flu shot during the stand down. Vaccines were one of the many services offered by the more than 60 vendors. Participants could also receive free haircuts, connect with legal aid and access benefits counseling.

Angel was required to stay 90 days but chose to remain longer to take advantage of its programs. He’s been sober for almost a year and sees his life heading in a new direction.

“They’ve taught me a lot,” Angel said.

Stories like Angel’s and Lionberger’s are a hopeful sign of a downward trend in homelessness. Across the country, homelessness among the veteran population is at its lowest numbers on record, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

DAV National Voluntary Services Director John Kleindienst wants to see the trend continue.

“Events like this stand down show veterans that we have a united front with our VA and community partners, and they mean a great deal,” he said. “They demonstrate the genuine commitment we have to taking care of those who’ve served their country. This isn’t the only stand down we do within DAV; others happen at departments and chapters across the country.

“But I look forward to the day when they’re not necessary. That means we’ll have solved the problem.”

In addition to being sober, Lionberger now has his own apartment and a job, and he has reunited with his daughter and other family members. He still makes it a point to come back to the stand down every year, not as a participant but to talk with and encourage other veterans.

“I’m a lifetime struggling vet, but I’m on the right course, and I want to see every veteran here on the right course,” he said.