Goodwill of the Coastal Empire Announces Stand Down for Homelessness Resource and Job Fair

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Aug. 26, 2015 - PRLog -- (SAVANNAH, GA) The twelfth annual Veterans Stand Down for Homelessness Resource and Job Fair will be held September 15 and 16 at the Savannah Civic Center from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Participants will be offered a hot meal, haircuts, showers and and will have opportunities for a variety of health screenings. Representatives from more than 40 Social Service agencies will be available to provide information and outreach on a variety of services including housing options, job resources, resume writing tips, substance abuse treatment, income tax assistance, and accesses to Social Security and Veteran’s Administration services.

This event is a collaboration of Savannah’s military and nonprofit communities to reach individuals in crisis and connect them with programs and services designed to help end homelessness. The Stand Down is intended to serve homeless veterans but is open to all individuals and families impacted by homelessness. There is no cost to attend.

The job fair will be held on Wednesday, September 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Savannah Civic Center. The job fair is open to the public and local employers will be onsite to fill positions. If you know of a local business interested in hiring have them reach out to Goodwill of the Coastal Empire (Michael Whitfield) at 912.354.6611.

Community sponsors include The Department of Veteran Affairs Community Based Out-Patient Clinic, The Savannah Vet Center, the American Legion Post 500, Goodwill of the Coastal Empire, the Georgia Department of Veteran Services, the Georgia Department of Labor, the Military Order of the Purple Hearts, the Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless and the Salvation Army.

Each year over 400 community volunteers assist with the Stand Down, including the Social Work department at Savannah State University that coordinates the distribution of clothes and personal items.

In the last year, 285 veterans were homelessness in Chatham County, according to statistics released by the Chatham-Savannah Authority for the Homeless. Traditionally, the Homeless Authority sees veterans from the Vietnam era, however, more and more veterans from the Gulf and Afghanistan conflicts are requesting various services. These men and women have served their country and we want them to know that the Savannah community is here to help them when they return.

The Stand Down is funded by a federal grant offered through the United States Department of Labor. Agencies such as Goodwill of the Coastal Empire, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs, The Chatham-Savannah Authority for the Homeless, The Salvation Army and other area nonprofit organizations pull the event together annually. The local universities provide volunteers and fundraise to ensure the event is a success. For more information on Stand Down for Homelessness, visit http://nchv.org/index.php/service/service/stand_down/

About Goodwill of the Coastal Empire
Goodwill of the Coastal Empire, Inc. is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization with over 850 employees. In 2014, Goodwill provided services to 9,885 people, placed 2,421 into employment and served more than 320 veterans in various programs. Goodwill serves 33 counties in Georgia and South Carolina, operating 17 retail locations, and five Job Connection Centers. Goodwill accepts tax deductible donations of clothing, household items, computers, and car donations. For more information on Goodwill of the Coastal Empire, please visit us at http://goodwillsavannah.org. Find us on Facebook: Savannah Goodwill or follow us on Twitter: @SavGoodwill.

Chatham-Savannah Authority for the Homeless (CSAH)

The mission of CSAH is to lead the effort to build and sustain community practices to eliminate homelessness. CSAH collaborates and develops a continuum of services for the homeless including child and family development, low income housing development, community outreach, case management, education, training, literacy support, employment, health and nutrition, transportation, and behavioral health services. CSAH works with community leaders to educate the public about why homelessness occurs and how to work together to solve these pressing issues. For more information go online to www.homelessauthority.org.

Onsite Contact
Jan Bass
Marketing Director
Goodwill of the Coastal Empire
jbass@goodwillsavannah.org
912.663.0685

Media Contact
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade PR, Inc.
savannahpublicrelations@gmail.com
912.844.9990
http://carriagetradepr.com