Veterans Resources Guide

Two million young men and women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and nearly 6,000 have already been killed. Thousands of servicemen and women have returned home afflicted with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Depression and suicide are wreaking havoc on them, their spouses, and children.
I am proud to have worked with President Obama and my Democratic allies in Congress to enact landmark legislation to help wounded veterans and their families, and to strengthen health care services for 5 million veterans.
The following is a Veterans Resource Guide to services available at the VA and other agencies.  Please let me know of any services or programs that should be added to the list.

Listen to Congressman Rangel's tribute to the veterans!

VETERANS RESOURCES GUIDE

1. Benefits
2. Comprehensive Resources
3. Employment/Training
4. Healthcare
5. Homelessness
6. Housing
7. Legal Assistance
8. Military Families
9. PTSD/Mental Health
10. State of New York Resources
11. Veterans of Color
12. Women Veterans

BENEFITS

• Burial and Memorial Benefits www.cem.va.gov 1-800-827-1000
• G.I. Bill www.gibill.va.gov  1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) 1-800-827-1001
• Life Insurance www.insurance.va.gov
  • 1-800-419-1473 (Service members and/or Veteran Group Life Insurance Program)
  • 1-800-669-8477 (All other VA Life Insurance Programs)

COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCES

• Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Returning Service Members www.oefoif.va.gov
  • Benefits: 1-800-827-1000
  • Education & Training: 1-888-442-4551
  • Life Insurance: 1-800-669-8477
  • Health Care: 1-866-669-8477
  • TDD/TTY: 1-800-829-4833
• Military One Source (Department of Defense Comprehensive Resource for Military Members and Families) www.militaryonesource.com 1-800-342-9647
• National Resource Directory www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov  1-800-342-9647

EMPLOYMENT/TRAINING

• Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves www.esgr.com Military DSN 426-1385
• Veterans Employment and Training Services www.dol.gov/vets 202-693-4700
• Federal Jobs for Veterans www.fedshirevets.gov/job/ 202-606-5090
• Compensated Work Therapy (Vocational Rehabilitation Services) www.cwt.va.gov
  • Employer Services Contact: 800-355-8262 or 214-857-0381
  • Veteran Services Contact: 800-929-7690 ex.5335 or 228-523-5335
  • Transitional Residence Contact: 757-722-9961 ex.1123
• Veterans Business Development www.sba.gov/vets 202-205-6773

 Healthcare

• My HealtheVet www.myhealth.va.gov 1-877-222-8387 (VA Healthcare Benefits)
• National Institute of Health Veterans Resources www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/veteransandmilitaryhealth.html
• Department of Military Liaison and Veterans Affairs, Office of the Surgeon General (Ask for the Director, Office of Military Liaison and Veteran Affairs) 301-443-4000

Homelessness

• National Homeless Veteran Call Center www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/hcv/vash/docs/nhvcc.pdf 1-877-4-AID-VET (1-877-424-3838)
• HUD Veterans Programs portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/topics/veteran_information
• The HUD-VASH Program www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/HUD-VASH.asp
• VA Homeless Veteran Programs www1.va.gov/homeless/  202-273-5764
• National Coalition for Homeless Veterans www.nchv.org/wheretogo.cfm 800-VET-HELP or 202-546-1969

Healthcare

• My HealtheVet www.myhealth.va.gov 1-877-222-8387 (VA Healthcare Benefits)
• National Institute of Health Veterans Resources www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/veteransandmilitaryhealth.html
• Department of Military Liaison and Veterans Affairs, Office of the Surgeon General (Ask for the Director, Office of Military Liaison and Veteran Affairs) 301-443-4000

HoUSING

• Home Ownership www.homeloans.va.gov 1-800-827-1000

Legal Assistance

• American Bar Association www.abanet.org/legalservices/helpreservists
• The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program www.vetsprobono.org 888-838-7727 or 202-628-8164

Military Families

• Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/SSVF.asp
• Sesame Street Workshop - When Families Grieve www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc
• Gold Star Wives www.goldstarwives.org 703-351-6246

PTSD/Mental Health

• National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder  www.ncptsd.va.gov 802-296-5132      
• Veteran Suicide Prevention Center www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/Veterans 1-800-273-TALK, Veterans Press 1 (1-800-273-8255)
• Major League Baseball Welcome Back Veterans Program ww.welcomebackveterans.org   New England residents please visit:     www.runtohomebase.org  
• Veteran Justice Outreach Initiative www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/VJO.asp
• VA Mental Health www.mentalhealth.va.gov

State of New York Resources

• New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs www.veterans.ny.gov 1-888-VETSNYS (1-888-838-7697)
• Black Veterans for Social Justice Inc. www.bvsj.org 718-852-6004     
• Women Veterans Health Care Program (New York/New Jersey) www.nynj.va.gov/womenvets      
• American Bar Association Legal Assistance in New York www.abanet.org/legalservices/helpreservists/lamphrdirectory.html#newyork 
• Jericho Project Veterans Initiative www.jerichoproject.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=50&Itemid=81 646-624-2341

Veterans of Color

• VA Center for Minority Veterans www1.va.gov/centerforminorityveterans/ 202-461-6191

Women Veterans

• VA Center for Women Veterans www1.va.gov/womenvet/  202-461-6191
• National Coalition for Homeless Veterans Resources for Women ww.nchv.org/women.cfm
• Women Veterans Health Care Program www.publichealth.va.gov/womenshealth/ 1-877-222-8387 (VA Health)
• Black Veterans for Social Justice, Inc.- Homeless Female Veterans and the Homeless Veterans with Families Program (HVRP 3) (For the Women Veterans' Program, please contact Katobia Sayles at 718-852-6004, ex. 261)
• Services for the Underserved, Inc. - Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program www.susinc.org 347-226-9019, ex. 224