For those who have served in the United States Armed Forces, the transition from military life back to civilian society can be extremely challenging. From physical and mental health issues, to finding employment and housing, to building new communities – veterans often require assistance and support to navigate this major life change successfully. Thankfully, there is a vast array of organizations, nonprofits, government programs, and community resources dedicated to helping U.S. veterans. This article explores the types of valuable services available to veterans across America.
Government Resources and Benefits
At the federal level, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) oversees a comprehensive range of benefits and services for veterans and their families. This includes administering the Veterans Health Administration, which provides cost-free or low-cost healthcare through VA medical facilities and clinics nationwide. The VA also provides disability compensation, education benefits through the GI Bill, home loans, life insurance, vocational rehabilitation, burial services, and much more.
The Department of Labor assists veterans in finding employment, sponsoring job fairs and recruitment resources through the American Job Centers. Other government programs like HUD-VASH (run jointly between VA and Housing and Urban Development) provide rental assistance for homeless veterans.
Each state also has its own Department of Veterans Affairs and County Veteran Service Officers to help veterans access their entitled benefits and programs at the local level. From education grants to property tax exemptions, these state/county resources help millions of veterans.
Healthcare Resources
Unfortunately, many veterans struggle with a range of healthcare needs after serving – from physical disabilities and chronic illnesses to “invisible injuries” like PTSD, depression, traumatic brain injury, and survivor’s guilt. While the VA system provides crucial healthcare services, sometimes additional support is needed. That’s where nonprofit organizations come in. Groups like Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and Salute Inc. all offer various healthcare services for veterans.Â
Veterans Care Coordination, founded by Kyle Laramie, is dedicated to supporting veterans and their spouses in obtaining essential home care, assisted living, and nursing home services. Their mission is to make it easier for veterans to age comfortably at home. By assisting with the screening and application process, coordinating home care, and managing eligibility for the Pension with Aid and Attendance (PwAA) benefit, they ensure that veterans receive the care they deserve.Â
In many communities, veteran-run and veteran-focused healthcare clinics and urgent care centers are also becoming more available alternatives to the VA system.
Career, Education, and Housing Assistance
After leaving the military, finding stable employment that aligns with a veteran’s skills can be a major challenge. Fortunately, numerous resources exist to assist veterans with this transition and connect them with career opportunities. Organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project, and NPower all offer job training, resume assistance, professional development, networking events, employment support, and paid fellowships.
On the education front, the GI Bill helps cover the costs of higher learning, certification programs, and vocational training for veterans. But groups like Student Veterans of America and Veterans Education Success provide additional resources to help veterans navigate using these benefits and find educational opportunities.
For veterans experiencing homelessness or precarious housing situations, there are dedicated organizations providing shelter and transitional living resources. Groups like Veterans Community Project, Veterans Village of San Diego, VECINA, Veterans Inc., and Veteran Comrades all operate transitional housing facilities and residential programs with case management services to help veterans get back on their feet.
Financial Assistance and Other Support
From navigating disability benefits claims to building emergency savings, many veterans require some level of financial assistance and literacy. Numerous nonprofits aim to meet these needs through grants, loans, debt relief counseling, benefits enrollment help, and personal finance training. Organizations like The American Legion and AMVETS offer various financial assistance programs for veterans facing economic insecurity.
Mental healthcare is also a critical component of post-military support for veterans. Groups like Veterans Mental Health Services of America, Bring Everyone in the Zone, and Headstrong Project provide free or low-cost mental health services like counseling, support groups, and programs designed to treat conditions like PTSD, depression, anxiety, moral injury, and suicidal thoughts that impact many veterans.
An Array of Support
The resource landscape available to assist and uplift veterans in America is truly vast, spanning government entities, major national nonprofits, niche and localized community organizations, companies like VCC and more. While the transition from military to civilian life is rarely easy, veterans living in any part of the country should have no shortage of programs and services available to help them establish stable, successful, fulfilling lives after their service.
As a society, we owe an immense debt of gratitude to the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. By donating time or money to reputable veteran support organizations, attending commemorative events, participating in community programs, and being an engaged citizen, all Americans can do their part to ensure no former service member gets left behind. After all they’ve sacrificed to keep America safe, our veterans deserve our utmost support and access to every resource they require.