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NYC Department of Veterans' Services (DVS) Weekly Newsletter
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Veteran Voices Project Live:
Women's History Month Edition
TODAY at 3 pm
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DVS will host a special Veteran Voices Project (VVP) Live to honor Women's History Month TODAY, March 24th, 3 - 4pm. The storytelling event will feature two women veterans who have dedicated their careers to helping other women thrive after their military service. Storytellers include:
Ginger Miller: Miller is a formerly homeless U.S. Navy veteran turned White House Champion of Change for women veterans. She is also the founder and CEO of Women Veterans Interactive.
Won Palisoul: In the U.S. Navy, Palisoul powered destroyers throughout the Pacific. After her service, she became a business owner, founded the Women Veterans and Families Network, and launched a career in finance. She currently serves as a faculty member at Columbia University and is a Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense.
Stream VVP Live here: facebook.com/nycveterans
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Veteran & Military Community Survey
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NYC is calling on servicemembers, veterans, and military families to take the Veteran and Military Community Survey. Your answers will help NYC policymakers understand the issues facing your community and help develop solutions. Take the survey here!
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NYC Veteran Advisory Board Meeting:
Thursday, March 25th!
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NYC is hosting a virtual Veteran Advisory Board Meeting on Thursday, March 25th, at 6:00 pm. The event will feature David Shulkin, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and a Q&A session with NYC officials. All are welcomed to attend!
Join online here or call (646) 558-8656 to join by phone.
Meeting ID: 889 4463 7663
Passcode 496746
Send questions to connect@veterans.nyc.gov.
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South Bronx NeON Nutrition Kitchen:
Veteran Only Days
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Next month, DVS and the South Bronx NeON Nutrition Kitchen will host Veterans Only Days to provide free packaged groceries, dairy, and produce to veterans and active duty service members.
WHEN:
Thursday, April 1st | 9:00 am -12:00 pm
Thursday, April 15th | 9:00 am -12:00 pm
Thursday, April 29th | 9:00 am -12:00 pm
WHERE:
198 E 161 Street, Bronx, NY 10451 (parking lot)
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Each week, we will dedicate a section of our newsletter to COVID-19 updates. This section will be updated weekly to reflect new developments:
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COVID-19 Vaccine Town Hall for NYC Veterans: Full Video
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On Thursday, March 18th, DVS and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) hosted a COVID-19 Vaccine Town Hall for NYC veterans. The event included a presentation of the most up-to-date information on the COVID-19 vaccine from Dr. Timothy Styles of the US Public Health Service and DOHMH.
Watch the full video here. For a full transcript of the event contact DVS at connect@veterans.ny.gov.
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Protect Yourself and Your City
Double mask and social distance in public, avoid gatherings, get tested often.
Increase Transmission in NYC and the COVID-19 Variant:
The 14-day test positivity average in NYC is 6% and cases may be undercounted. There is also increasing transmission of COVID-19 in NYC. Learn more here.
People in NYC have tested positive for two variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. These variants are more transmissible than other variants and may cause more severe illness.
Preliminary studies suggest that vaccines authorized for use in the U.S. will provide protection against these variants, however, additional studies are ongoing.
NYC will continue monitoring for COVID-19 strains and other variants that have been identified and reported in New York State. Learn more here.
COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility:
As of Tuesday, March 23rd, every New Yorker over 50 is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Learn if you're eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine here.
Scheduling a Vaccine Appointment
Anyone who's eligible can get vaccinated at any vaccination site except pharmacies, which are still reserved for New Yorkers over 60 years old and teachers.
- Schedule a vaccine appointment here or call 877-VAX-4NYC (1-877-829-4692). Appointments are required!
You can also visit the following resources to find other locations that may have appointments available:
Homebound Veterans
All homebound New Yorkers, including senior veterans and veterans with disabilities, can request an in-home vaccine.
If you believe you are eligible for an in-home vaccination, please fill out the Interest Form here. The City will use this information to call back to further discuss eligibility for the program.
You can also dial 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692) to request in-home vaccination.
Scheduling a Vaccine Appointment at the VA:
Eligible veterans, including veterans over 50, enrolled in VA health care can call 1-877-877-9267 to make an appointment at one of the following locations:
On Saturday, March 27th, 8:30 am - 3:00 pm, the St. Albans VA Medical Center will enroll new veterans in VA healthcare and provide the COVID-19 vaccine to ALL newly enrolled veterans with appointments. For more information and to schedule an appointment, call 718-836-6600 ext 6534/1752. The St. Albans VA Medical Center is located at 179-00 Linden Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11425.
Eligible veterans enrolled at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in the Bronx should call (718) 584-9000 ext. 4640, Monday through Friday - 8:30-4:00-pm.
Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Vaccine
The Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine does not require a second dose. Learn more here.
Vaccine Side Effects
Most people report some side effects from the COVID-19 vaccines, which are usually signs that the body is building protection. Common side effects include soreness or swelling on the arm where you got the shot, headache, body aches, tiredness, and fever. Learn more here.
After You Get Vaccinated
Please continue to wear a mask and socially distance in public after you get vaccinated. See guidelines for fully vaccinated people here.
Vaccines are Free:
When you are eligible, you can get the vaccine for FREE no matter what.
Vaccines Are Safe:
According to the CDC, "COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective." Learn more about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine here.
Vaccine FAQ
Do you still have questions about the vaccine? Check out NYC's Vaccine FAQ here.
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New York Helmets to Hardhats:
Virtual Open House
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Veterans interested in a career in union construction are invited to join New York Helmets to Hardhats' Virtual Open House.
WHEN: April 12th -14th | 5:30 pm
Register here.
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Military Spouse & Caregiver Scholarships
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Hope For The Warriors is currently accepting applications for their Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarship program. The program rewards post-9/11 military spouses and caregivers with educational scholarships ranging from $1,500 to $2,500. The following scholarships are offered:
- Honorary Scholarship: awarded to those seeking a graduate or post-graduate degree
- New Beginnings Scholarship: awarded to those pursuing an associate degree, entry-level classes, or training
- Restoring Family Scholarship: awarded to spouses of the fallen
- Restoring Hope Scholarship: awarded to a Master of Social Work student
- Restoring Self Scholarship: awarded to those pursuing a bachelor’s degree
The application deadline is April 30th. Learn more and apply here.
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DVS Programs & Initiatives
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Making supportive calls. Distributing face masks. Preparing meal kits. Housing the homeless. Processing VA benefit claims. Watch this video to learn how DVS responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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DVS partnered with GetFoodNYC to help deliver food to homebound veterans. We're also working to distribute HelloFresh meals to veteran families. Request food or learn how to volunteer to prepare meal kits by contacting connect@veterans.nyc.gov.
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Housing Veterans During the Pandemic
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DVS continues to house homeless veterans during the pandemic. The agency was able to house 183 formerly homeless veterans in 2020, an increase of approximately 18% compared to the previous year. Learn more about DVS's efforts to end veteran homelessness in NYC here.
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Making Calls to Veterans Across NYC
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As part of Mission: VetCheck, volunteers call NYC veterans to provide information about essential services, including free meals, COVID-19 testing, and mental health resources.
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Many veterans living in NYC are eligible for, but do not receive, their Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. That's why DVS is representing veterans and their families in claims for benefits. To schedule an online appointment with a member of our VA Claims Team, contact claims@veterans.nyc.gov or 212-416-5250.
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Veteran Voices Project: Oral History Initiative
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DVS has captured the oral history of NYC veterans representing every branch and service era. From World War 2 to COVID-19, hear stories of service across generations on our Veteran Voices Project library.
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SITREP NYC: NYC's Official Veteran Podcast
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Listen to SITREP NYC, NYC's official veteran-focused podcast, to hear stories from veterans who are often ignored and underserved. Hear the complete season here or see below for a list of episodes:
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Stories of Transition
The Black Veteran Experience
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LGBT Veteran Stories
The Health of Women Veterans
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DVS updated its website to help EVERY veteran find the services that are right for them. Whether you're a student, transitioning, woman, LGBT, or a senior veteran - nyc.gov/vets has what you need.
Review the webpages on our site:
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Support a Veteran:
Media:
Contact Us:
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Referral Services: vetconnectnyc.org or 1-833-VETS-NYC
VA Claims & Food Donations
- Latisha Russaw
(917) 605-0325 | lrussaw@veterans.nyc.gov
Food Delivery Assistance:
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
Housing:
- 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
Healthcare:
- Melissa Walters
(646) 889-4180 | Mewalters@veterans.nyc.gov
Military Families and Caregivers:
- Tanya Thomas
(646) 499-0098 | tthomas@veterans.nyc.gov
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