Operation Stand Down Tennessee

Through our Veteran Service Center, OSDTN provides a wide variety of services for ALL Veterans and their family members. Services include: Legal Aid, VA Benefits Counseling, Financial Coaching, Basic Needs (Food, Shelter, Personal Care Items, Clothing and Transportation), VA Home Loan Workshops, Military Records Assistance, Notary Services, Project Healing Waters, Reboot Combat Recovery, Sounds of Acoustic Recovery, Life Skills Programs, Computer Resources, Networking Opportunities, Family Support and Service Referrals. Additionally, the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program provides direct assistance designed for Veterans earning less than 50% of the area median income and who are in danger of losing their housing, or are homeless and want housing. Most SSVF eligible Veterans and their families have unsuitable housing and/or unfavorable financial or legal histories which present barriers to housing. The goal of the SSVF Program is to help Veterans achieve stability and independence.

Career Services helps Veterans who have just out-processed from the military, as well as those who completed their service years ago with job placement assistance, computer training, résumé development, professional development workshops, interview preparation, and budget counseling. Veterans are interviewed by our Career Services staff to assess their individual needs. Once a Veteran schedules an interview, Career Services counselors can help provide appropriate clothing for the interview from the 12th Avenue Thrift Store (shirts, ties, suit jackets, shoes, etc). Career Services can also help with transportation needs in the form of gas cards or bus passes once the interview has been verified by the Employment staff. After a Veteran secures employment, a Career Services counselor can help provide items that will contribute to his/her success at the new place of employment. These items include work boots, tools/ equipment, bus passes or gas cards to help with transportation, and specialized clothing. All items are provided once the Veteran’s employment has been verified. We currently have six desktop computers and WiFi access for Veterans and their families to use. Veterans may use our computer lab to build or revise their resumes, conduct job searches, as well as apply online for jobs. Staff members are available to assist Veterans and their families with submitting resumes and applying for jobs. In addition to OSDTN Career Services staff, we partner with the American Job Center of Tennessee.

The 12th Avenue Thrift Store, located next to the OSDTN Nashville office, has three goals: 1) Offer quality products of used clothing, furniture, household items and small appliances for sale to the general public generating revenue to be a self-supporting entity and providing support to OSDTN’s programs to assist Veterans; 2) Operate a job-training program to provide employment training for Veterans; and 3) Provide clothing, coats, shoes, etc. for eligible OSDTN Veteran clients at no cost to them. This program also helps Veteran trainees find employment, find sustainable housing, and transition from successful military service to a productive civilian life. Veterans learn the basics of retail operations and after a three to four month probationary period, trainees split work hours between the thrift store and an OSDTN Career Counselor to find permanent employment. Veterans served through the OSDTN Veteran Service Center obtain clothing vouchers that allow them to shop in our 12th Avenue Thrift for their clothes at no cost. They are able to pick out the size, style and color they prefer and try them on for size in one of the dressing rooms. It’s always a great feeling to see our Veterans dressed for success as they head out to their new jobs.