NYC Department of Veterans' Services:
A Year-End Review

At the start of the pandemic, the NYC Department of Veterans' Services (DVS) developed a proactive plan to continue providing the highest quality of care to the City's veteran community. Read about the services and initiatives DVS developed in response to the challenges of 2020:

Feeding Veterans in Need

Reaching Out to Veterans Across NYC

Helping File VA Claims

Housing Veterans During the Pandemic

Sharing Veterans' Stories

Veteran Voices Project: Oral History Initiative

SITREP NYC: NYC's Official Veteran Podcast

This year, DVS wrapped up SITREP NYC, NYC's official veterans podcast. The final season featured stories from veterans who are often ignored and underserved. Listen to the complete season here or see below for a list of episodes:

Stories of Transition 

Coming Home  
From losing a community to regaining a sense of purpose, we explore the challenges and successes veterans experience when they come home from serving their country. 

Episode 1: Stories of the Black Veteran Experience Across Generations 
A WWII soldier lies about his race in order to serve his country, a black woman veteran reflects on the promotion that was taken from her, a biracial cadet reconciles with alienation and privilege.

Episode 2: Black Post 9/11 Veterans 
Black post-9/11 veterans discuss why they don't feel comfortable promoting their military service, the alienation they feel walking into established VSOs, and their relationship to prior generations of black veterans. 

Episode 3: Black Woman. Veteran. (In that Order) 
Black women veterans discuss the consequences of confronting stereotypes and speaking out against harassment in the military. 

LGBT Veteran Stories

Episode 1: LGBT Veterans Across Generations 
LGBT veterans representing different service eras, including World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, discuss being gay in the military. 

Episode 2: The Story of a Black LGBT Veteran 
After a near-fatal attack in Afghanistan, a black veteran considers whether to come out to his family and fellow soldiers.

Episode 1: Motherhood in the Military  
Women veterans discuss parenthood in the military and share stories of family separation and loss.  

Episode 2: Show No Weakness 
What cultural factors prevent women in the military from reporting illness and injury? 

Episode 4: PTSD, MST, and the Obstacles to Healing  
This episode explores the military experiences that impact the mental health of women veterans and the challenges they face when attempting to address these issues. The veterans featured discuss post-traumatic stress disorder and military sexual trauma. Please be advised.

Looking Forward to 2021

DVS Online Seminar for Veteran-Owned Businesses:
Learn to Sell to NYC

DVS and the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) are hosting an online seminar for veteran-owned businesses and veteran entrepreneurs. This event will highlight the benefits of becoming certified as an MWBE, LBE, and EBE and review contract opportunities with NYC government agencies. Participants will also have an opportunity to hear from peers who have become certified and successfully contracted with the City.

Featured experts will answer key questions such as:

• How do I determine if doing business with the government is right for me?
• What are the benefits of MWBE, EBE, LBE certification?
• What services are available to help me succeed in contracting with the government?
• Are there available opportunities to do business with local, state, or federal government agencies?
• How do I access NYC Covid-19 relief programs for small businesses?

When: Friday, 1/22 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm 
Register here

DVS Online Seminar:
VA Home Loan Explained

DVS and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will host an online seminar to help NYC real estate professionals understand how we can further support service members, veterans, and eligible surviving spouses become homeowners. The event will present an overview of the home loan guaranty benefit including:

· eligibility requirements for home loan guaranty
· VA funding fee
· specially adaptive housing
· loan management
· coronavirus aid from the CARES Act

When: Wednesday, 1/27 | 3:00 am - 4:30 pm 
Register here | Open to NYC real estate professionals only

Get $25 off Your Next Lyft Ride

 DVS is offering service members, veterans, military spouses, and military families up to $25 off their next Lyft ride. To receive a discount code sign up here. There are only a few discount codes left!

This offer is valid through December 31, 2020, or while supplies last.  Arrange a safe trip to the grocery store or bank today!   

DVS Website

Review our new website at nyc.gov/vets or take a closer look at our new webpages below:

Connect to Services:

• Benefit and VA Claims Services 
• Employment and Employer Resources 
• Financial Assistance Resources 
• Food Services 
• Health Resources 
• Housing Support Services 
• Legal Services 
• LGBT Veterans 
• Mental Health Services 
• Military Families and Caretakers 
• Senior Veterans 
• Student Veterans 
• Women Veterans 
• Veterans with Disabilities 
• Veteran Organizations and Businesses 
• Volunteer Opportunities 

• Arrange a Burial or Funeral 
• Hire a Veteran 
• House a Veteran 
• Volunteer with Veterans 

• Weekly Newsletter 
• Social Media 
• SITREP Podcast 
• Veteran Voices Project: Oral History Library 
• Videos 

• Partner with DVS
• Press Inquiries

Contact DVS

Referral Services: vetconnectnyc.org or 1-833-VETS-NYC

VA Claims & Food Donations

• Latisha Russaw
  (917) 605-0325 | lrussaw@veterans.nyc.gov​

• Eileen Barcene​
  (646) 499-0055​ | ebarcene@veterans.nyc.gov

Employment Services:

• Christian T. Peralta​
  (646) 630-1932​ | cperalta1@veterans.nyc.gov​

Education Services and Unemployment Assistance​:

• Amauri Espinal​
  (646) 799-2728​ | aespinal@veterans.nyc.gov

• Dana Rock, HSS Director​
  (646) 901-4948​ | DanaRock@veterans.nyc.gov​
• Horng Chou, HSS Deputy Director​
  (646) 532-1884​ | Hchou@veterans.nyc.gov​

Eviction Prevention:​

• Angela Guyton-Cyril​
  (646) 740-8156​ | AGuyton-Cyril@veterans.nyc.gov​

• Melissa Walters​
  (646) 889-4180​ | Mewalters@veterans.nyc.gov

• Tanya Thomas​
  (646) 499-0098​ | tthomas@veterans.nyc.gov