Hundreds of homeless veterans will receive a wide array of services -- from health screenings to help finding transitional housing and jobs -- during the annual Homeless Veterans Standdown on Friday at the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City.

For more information, about the event, which runs from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., contact the VA's public affairs office at 801-584-1252.

The standdown comes just days after Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki announced a plan to end homelessness among veterans in the next five years. The former Army general and Vietnam combat veteran pledged $3.2 billion over the next year to reduce homelessness among veterans.

"Those who have served this nation as veterans should never find themselves on the streets, living without care and without hope," said Shinseki.

He said he recognizes that a goal of zero homeless veterans is ambitious, but that he wants a high target so that everyone puts in their best efforts.

His plan includes preventive measures, including support services for incarcerated veterans who are re-entering society; a national referral center that can link veterans to programs in their areas; and expansions in education, job training, health care and housing.

"In the past, VA focused largely on getting homeless veterans off the streets," Shinseki said. "Our five-year plan aims also at preventing them from ever ending up homeless."