"The military term Stand Down describes the movement of soldiers in combat to a safe place for rest and recovery."

Since 1993, a coalition of over 50 local, state and federal agencies has used this concept in Nashville to organize a three-day event for veterans who are homeless. This community-based event provides homeless veterans with a wide range of necessities including food, clothing, medical, and legal assistance, job counseling, and referrals.  The event provides each veterans with an opportunity to connect with other veterans through companionship and camaraderie. The event provides the community an opportunity to reestablish ties with homeless veterans and address the homeless crisis in Middle Tennessee. 

To help veterans year-round, Operation Stand Down Nashville became a full-time agency and opened a  Service Center and purchased transitional housing,

Our mission is to provide social services to honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces, including employment services, transitional housing, or referrals and coordination of the activities of other agencies in the delivery of such services.