Tucson Veterans Serving Veterans (TVSV) started in 2003 as a monthly venue for Tucson state veteran staff to meet
and network about ways to improve services to veterans seeking employment.
Over five years it has become a much larger organization involved in a wide range of activities,
but its primary goal is still the same. Currently, TVSV is an ad hoc committee.
Primary partners are Local Veteran Employment Representatives (LVERs) and
Disabled Veteran Outreach Program specialists (DVOPs),
the Department of Veteran Affairs (including the Homeless Program and
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment),
the Jackson Employment Center (Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program),
and Comin’ Home transitional housing for veterans).
Several organizations meet regularly with us and for special events 30 or more other government agencies,
private organizations, and corporate sponsors participate with TVSV.
TVSV’s stated goal is to help veterans achieve independence and selfsufficiency,and most members do this
by helping veterans get stable, good paying jobs.
Some TVSV members help veterans overcome barriers such as homelessness,
lack of current job skills, and substance abuse issues.
Working together, TVSV’s partners provide a spectrum of services leading to fulfillment of our goal.
One of TVSV’s most noticeable activities is its Stand Downs.
In these events, homeless veterans are brought off the streets, given a chance to shower, get haircuts,
clean clothes,minor medical care, hot meals, and for overnight events, a place to sleep safely.
In addition, numerous social gencies attend, offering veterans assistance with housing, employment, counseling,
Social Security benefits, VA benefits, legal assistance, food stamps, vocational rehabilitation, and many other areas.
We now do two Stand Downs per year. There is a three day event in late spring and a fall event that goes for one days.
The overall purpose of the Stand Downs is to encourage homeless veterans to take advantage of services and programs
that will help them get back into society and refer them to agencies that can help break down barriers to employment.
TVSV participated in coordinating the setup of a Tucson Project Homeless Connect ‘first time’ event
and provided services to veterans attending.
Also,TVSV provides veteran services at Tucson’s Hope Fest. TVSV members support veteran-only job fairs
organized by LVERs. Recently, TVSV is looking into ways to support the Governor’s faith-based and
community support for returning veterans. When not setting up Stand Downs and other events,
TVSV is more in the nature of a veteran staff networking group.
People from different social agencies, employers, government offices – basically
anyone who can assist us in improving our ability to help veterans towards employment –
are invited to speak at our meetings.
TVSV meetings are also a venue for Department of Labor (DOL) and statelevel veteran staff to keep
local veteran staff current on relevant events practices, policies, and procedures.
Biography