Veteran Life
Browse this categorized list of job boards, crisis and advice lines, health information, housing and legal assistance, social outlets, training programs and groups offering VA system navigation for veterans and their loved ones.
VETERANS HELP RESOURCES
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Crisis Lines
Connects veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat or text. (800) 273-8255
The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. (800) 273-TALK (8255)
This veteran-founded-and-led group focuses on military suicide prevention. Free resources and support to all past and present military and their families. They are equipped to meet the complex needs of the military community and their resources include emergency financial aid, housing assistance, PTSD referrals and more. (800) 273-8255 #1
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Guidance and Information
Connects callers to another veteran of America’s armed forces. This hotline is “vets serving vets” and provides VA and other veteran life advice to vets, their friends and families. It is toll-free and answered by a real person, not a phone tree. Monday-Friday 9am-5pm PST. (888) 777-4443
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Job, Career and Business
▸ Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center
An organization that assists women veterans, active duty, reservists and female military spouses through funding, mentorships, financial preparedness, business certification, strategic partnerships and other resources for starting or growing a business.
▸ VETS: Veterans’ Employment and Training Service
The U.S. Department of Labor’s portal for helping veterans, service members and spouses find jobs.
▸ CareerOneStop: Veteran and Military Transition Center
A list of current job openings for vets across the United States, along with training, education and certification resources. A free veteran resume guide for help writing an impressive resume is available for download. This website also has a resource for employers to post jobs for veterans.
▸ VA Employment Programs for Homeless Veterans
VA’s Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) is a national vocational program composed of three unique components to help veterans return to competitive employment: Sheltered Workshop, Transitional Work and Supported Employment. Veterans in CWT are paid at least the federal or state minimum wage, whichever is higher.
Free placement program for jobs in California for service members, veterans and their families, natural disaster survivors and CalGuard youth academy graduates. It offers free training in security, IT, heavy equipment operation and employment readiness. Career paths are wide-ranging in experience and backgrounds.
The National Veterans Foundation’s job board for vets. Includes employment resources, benefits help and advice/assistance.
▸ Small Business (SBA Veteran & Disabled Veterans)
The U.S. Small Business Administration offers resources to help veterans and service-disabled veterans start and grow small businesses.
▸ VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Home
The VA’s program to help vets with job training, job seeking, resume development and skills coaching. Other services are available to help vets start their own businesses. For those who are severely disabled and unable to work in traditional employment, this program can also help obtain independent living services.
This organization promotes economic independence for disadvantaged women, including veterans, by providing professional attire and a network of support and career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
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Physical and Mental Health
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs portal for learning about PTSD, testimonials from vets who have received PTSD treatment and resources for managing PTSD symptoms. (Also connects to the Veterans Crisis Line for vets needing to speak to a counselor right away, via call, text or live chat.)
▸ Make the Connection MST Site
Includes multiple resources for those seeking care for or information about Military Sexual Trauma (MST).
▸ Find a VA Hospital or Clinic
There are over 1,000 VA Hospitals across the United States and US territories – this is a resource to search by state for hospitals, clinics and other VA related offices.
Offers several support and service options particularly for veteran caregivers. The programs are available both in and out of home to help both the veteran and caregiver.
A web guide focused on educating veterans about alcohol abuse treatment, lessening the stigma of addiction and empowering veterans struggling to find treatment.
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Housing and Homelessness
The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program combines Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the VA.
▸ SSVF
Under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, VA awards grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that can provide supportive services to very low-income veteran families living in or transitioning to permanent housing.
▸ Homeless Veteran Stand Downs
“Stand Downs” are typically one- to three-day events providing supplies and services such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings and VA Social Security benefits counseling to homeless veterans.
▸ National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
Emergency and supportive housing, food, health services, job training and placement assistance, legal aid and case management for hundreds of thousands of homeless veterans each year. Provided by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV), the resource and technical assistance center for a national network of community-based service providers and local, state and federal agencies.
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Social Support and Activities
Empowers veterans facing the challenge of adjusting to life at home to find new missions.
RWB’s mission is to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.
▸ Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)
The nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing new veterans and their families from their first day home through the rest of their lives.
Team Rubicon unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams.
Provides military veterans with the resources, support and advocacy needed to succeed in higher education and following graduation.
Focusing on service to veterans, service members and communities, The American Legion currently has about 2.4 million members in 14,000 posts worldwide.
▸ VFW – Veterans of Foreign Wars USA
Fosters camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts.
A group of current conflict veterans that strive to help other combat veterans succeed. Utilizes extreme sports to take the edge out of civilian life including river boarding, rock climbing, mountain biking, sky diving and many other activities. “Some of us have wounds left over from combat, others can’t be seen – but we all benefit from getting out and meeting people that have been in our shoes.”
Empowers positive change for veterans with invisible disabilities such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) through the use of expertly-trained service dogs.
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Education
▸ College scholarships for veterans and their families
Job search website Zippia has a roundup of higher education scholarships veterans and their families can apply for throughout the year.
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Legal
Provides pro bono legal assistance to homeless and low income current and former service members in an effort to eradicate barriers to housing, education, employment and healthcare, and to foster self-sufficiency.
▸ National Veterans Legal Services Program
A nonprofit that has worked since 1980 to ensure that the government delivers to our nation’s 25 million veterans and active duty personnel the military service disability benefits to which they are entitled.
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Transportation
Provides refurbished vehicles to help ease the transportation burden for current military and veterans. Their technicians restore the vehicles to proper driving condition. The website provides a list of military/veteran support programs through which veterans can apply.
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VA Benefit Links
The US Department of Veterans Affairs provides patient care and federal benefits to veterans and their dependents – below are links to resources provided by Veterans Affairs.
▸ Veterans Affairs Offices, listed by state
▸ VA E-benefits portal to apply for and manage education, health, pensions and other benefits
▸ Request a representative to help prepare and submit claims for benefits
▸ Path to Benefits resource for veterans and their families to learn about eligibility for benefits
We would like to give a special thanks to the National Veterans Foundation for compiling much of this extensive list of resources available to veterans and their families. If you have a specific question or situation not addressed by the resources above, please call the Lifeline for Vets: (888) 777-4443.
▸ Also: Browse the KERA Helps tool to find more assistance. Sort the list of funds and nonprofits by location or category.
MILITARY & VETERAN NEWS COVERAGE
▸ Browse our archive of KERA News stories on military and veteran affairs.
▸ Ken Burns and Lynn Novick produced the documentary The Vietnam War. Listen to their interview with KERA’s Krys Boyd on Think.
THE VIETNAM WAR DOCUMENTARY
▸ The 10-part documentary by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick highlights the impact of war on all American lives — veterans’ in particular. Visit Vietnam War on PBS.org for clips, resources, stories and other extras. You can watch or purchase the documentary on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Apple iTunes (while available).
▸ Get ideas for conversation starters with this Vietnam War discussion guide.
Trailer:
Listen to the documentary soundtrack on Spotify. If you don’t have a Spotify account of your own, you can listen to a portion of each song right here:
To recommend a veteran resource to add to this list, email us.
