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NYC Department of Veterans' Services (DVS) Weekly Newsletter
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Spotlighting Our Veteran Housing Team
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DVS Veteran Peer Coordinator on Housing Veterans
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The DVS Veteran Peer Coordinators (VPCs) are an integral part of our housing team. VPCs provide direct support to veterans experiencing homelessness, helping them move out of shelters and into permanent housing. VPCs identify apartments veterans are eligible for, provide transportation to and from apartment viewings, and ensure veterans have the rental subsidies they've earned.
Over the past five years, our VPCs have housed over 1,000 veterans. They even worked during the pandemic to secure safe housing for veterans and their families. As we conclude our five-year anniversary month, we thought it would be fitting to spotlight the work of this incredible team. We can go on celebrating them, but we prefer you check out this video and hear from our VPCs directly.
Learn more about DVS's efforts to end veteran homelessness here.
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This week, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that New York City plans to "fully reopen" starting July 1st pending state approval. The plan means that the following will reopen fully on July 1st:
- restaurants and bars
- stores, shops, and small businesses
- hair salons and barbershops
- gyms and fitness classes
- arenas and stadiums
- theaters, music halls, and museums
The only exception to the July 1st reopening plan are Broadway shows, which may fully resume in September.
For more information on COVID-19, including safety guidelines and how to get vaccinated, click here or scroll to the bottom of this newsletter.
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GI Bill:
With the recent passing of the Isakson and Roe Act, service members can now transfer all or part of their Post 9/11 GI Bill entitlement to their ward or foster child. Read more here.
Debt Collection Pause:
In February, the White House approved extending the pause on veteran debt collection at the VA during the pandemic. Those debts include benefit overpayments and some medical copays veterans may have incurred since April 1, 2020. The VA has paused debt collection for veterans through September 30th. Read more here.
View available debt relief options from the VA here.
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Watch: Human Rights Panel for
Women in Uniformed Services
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Protections Under the NYC and NYS Human Rights Law and Resources
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This week, DVS partnered with the New York City Commission on Human Rights and the New York State Division of Veterans Services on a panel discussion covering local and state human rights laws designed to protect women in uniformed services. Watch the full discussion here.
Click here to learn how the New York City Human Rights Law protects service members from discrimination.
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Career Panel for Student Veterans
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In celebration of National Military Appreciation Month, Adelphi University will host a Veteran Career Panel and Workshop on Tuesday, May 4th, for ALL student veterans! Veteran alumni will discuss their academic journey and post-graduate career path. Following the panel discussion, members of Adelphi’s Center for Career and Professional Development will share tips for writing a cover letter and resume, job searching during the pandemic, and interviewing in a virtual world. Learn more here.
WHEN: Tuesday, May 4th | 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Register here.
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Virtual Event for Military Families
at the Wild Center
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Get otter here! The NYS Division of Veterans' Services concludes their Month of the Military Child celebrations with a virtual visit inside the river otter habitat at the Wild Center! Bring your family to meet sea otters from the comfort of your home!
To sign up, email benjamin.pomerance@veterans.ny.gov.
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Be Part of the City Cleanup Corps at NYC Parks
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NYC Parks is hiring for positions with the City Cleanup Corps (CCC), who work to keep our parks clean and green. Positions run through December 31st, 2021. Some positions require a driver’s license. Employees who work for six months or longer are eligible for healthcare benefits. All staff will be provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Help make New York City the cleanest, greenest city in the US. Visit nyc.gov/parks for more information and to apply.
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Financial Assistance to
Help Cover Funeral Expenses
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FEMA is providing financial assistance for funeral expenses occurring after January 20th, 2020, for deaths related to COVID-19. Covered expenses include the transfer of remains, burial plots, caskets, clergy services, cremation, headstones, and more. Learn more and apply to receive financial assistance here.
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To reflect the progress our city has made, we've converted our "Weekly COVID-19 Updates" section to the "COVID-19 Information" section. You can still find everything you need to keep you and your family safe as NYC enters the final phases of the pandemic.
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Walk-ins Welcomed!
Every New Yorker, 16 and up, can now walk into any City-run vaccine site and get a COVID-19 vaccine - no appointment needed, no zip code requirement. To find a City-run vaccine site, click here.
You can still schedule a vaccine appointment at nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or by calling 877-VAX-4NYC (1-877-829-4692). To find other locations that may have appointments available visit:
Please note: People who are 16 or 17 years old are only eligible for the Pfizer vaccine.
Scheduling an Appointment at the VA:
Call 1-877-877-9267 to make an appointment at one of the following VA locations:
- Manhattan VA Medical Center
- Brooklyn VA Medical Center
- Staten Island Community VA Clinic
- St. Albans VA Medical Center
Call (718) 584-9000 ext. 4640 to schedule an appointment at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center (Bronx VA).
In-home Vaccinations
If you are a homebound veteran, you can schedule an in-home vaccination by calling 877-829-4692 or by filling out the request form here.
After You Get Vaccinated
See guidelines for fully vaccinated people here.
Vaccine FAQ
Have any questions about the COVID-19 vaccine? Check out NYC's Vaccine FAQ here.
COVID-19 Testing
NYC still has COVID tests available for free all around the city. Find a location at nyc.gov/covidtest. In addition to testing locations, New Yorkers can also get a fast test at a COVID-19 mobile testing site! To learn if a mobile testing site will be in your neighborhood, click here.
In general, people who had COVID-19 in the past 3 months and recovered and people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 do not need to be tested, unless they have COVID-19 symptoms. If you have symptoms, be sure to get tested as soon as possible.
Continue to Take Precautions!
COVID-19 is still here, which means we all must continue to take precautions to prevent the spread. Everyone, including those of us who are fully vaccinated, should continue to wear a mask when outside the home, especially if you can't keep at least 6 feet of distance from others. Learn more here.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, stay home. Do not leave home except to get essential medical care (including testing for COVID-19) or to get basic needs such as groceries, if someone can not get them for you. Learn more 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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Take the NYC Military & Veteran Community Survey
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Are you a veteran, active duty service member, reservist, guardsman, veteran family member, military spouse, or military caregiver who lives in New York City? If so, DVS wants to hear from you!
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DVS is conducting a survey to help NYC policymakers identify potential service gaps and better understand the needs of the veteran community. Take the NYC Veteran and Military Community Survey to help make this city the best home in the country for active duty service members, veterans, and military families. Your response will remain anonymous unless you opt-in to receive support services from DVS. Take the survey here!
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Put Your Veteran-Owned Business on the Map
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DVS is launching an online interactive map that will help New Yorkers find VOBs in their community. Veterans business owners can add their information to the upcoming VOB map here.
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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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Ending Veteran Homelessness in NYC
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Over the past five years, our housing team has moved over 1,000 veterans from shelters and into permanent housing. 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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