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NYC Department of Veterans' Services (DVS) Weekly Newsletter
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NYC Veterans Can Now Take
Civil Service Exams for Free!
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Veterans thinking about becoming a New York City firefighter, police officer, or any other municipal worker can now take every civil service exam for free!
We're proud to collaborate with the NYC Department Citywide Administrative Services to make it easier for veterans to continue their careers as public servants. Read more here.
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NYC Primary Elections:
Everything You Need to Know
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Have questions about NYC's primary elections? DVS has you covered. See below to learn everything you need to know about the upcoming elections:
WHO’S ON MY BALLOT?:
Use the official June 2021 Voter Guide to meet the candidates and learn about their plans for NYC. To start, enter your address on the lookup tool here.
To find your poll site and view your sample ballot, click here.
RANK-CHOICE VOTING:
NYC now uses Ranked-Choice Voting for primary and special elections. You can now rank up to five candidates in order of preference for the following offices:
- Mayor
- Public Advocate
- Comptroller
- Borough President
- City Council
Learn more about Rank-Choice Voting here.
HOW TO VOTE:
There are three ways to vote in NYC’s primary election:
- Early in-person (Saturday, June 12th - Sun, June 20th)
- By mail (request an absentee ballot here by Tuesday, June 15th)
- On Election Day (Tuesday, June 22th, polls open from 6 am - 9 pm)
Learn more about how to vote here.
EARLY VOTING:
Early voting began on Saturday, June 12th! To vote early, you must vote at your assigned early voting site, which may be different from your Election Day poll site. Find your early voting site here. See below for the early voting schedule:
- Tuesday, June 15th: 10 am - 8 pm
- Wednesday, June 16th: 10 am - 8 pm
- Thursday, June 17th: 10 am - 8 pm
- Friday, June 18th: 7 am - 4 pm
- Saturday, June 19th: 8 am - 5 pm
- Sunday, June 20th: 8 am - 4 pm
Learn more about early voting here.
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Virtual Veterans Advisory Board Meeting:
Thursday, June 17th
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NYC will host a virtual Veterans Advisory Board Meeting this Thursday, June 17th, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm.
Learn how the City is serving the veteran community, ask questions to public officials, and advocate for causes that are important to you. Your voice is needed to make this a more veteran-friendly city!
To ask a question at the VAB meeting, please email nycveteransadvisoryboard@gmail.com. If you represent an organization that can serve veterans and their families, please email the VAB to have your information shared at the meeting.
To join, click here.
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DVS Commissioner James Hendon:
"Take the NYC Veteran and Military Community Survey"
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DVS Commissioner on the NYC Veteran and Military Community Survey
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DVS Commissioner James Hendon has an important message for the 210,000 veterans who call NYC home: "I want you to take the NYC Veteran and Military Community Survey. DVS will use the responses from this survey to provide better services for those who sacrificed to protect our nation."
Veterans, active duty service members, military spouses, and caregivers can complete the survey here.
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Eviction Prevention Resources
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- Most tenants who are experiencing financial challenges due to COVID-19 can prevent eviction until at least August 31st, 2021 if they sign and deliver a Hardship Declaration form to their landlord or local Housing Court. You can find the Hardship Declaration form here.
- Applications are open for the NYS Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)! The ERAP helps households at risk of eviction by providing emergency back rent and utility payments, as well as temporary rental assistance. For eligibility requirements and how to apply, click here.
For more information, visit our new Eviction Prevent FAQ page here.
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Career and Education Fair for
Veterans and their Families
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On Wednesday, June 23, and Thursday, June 24th, the U.S. Veterans Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with Vets2Industry and MilitaryHire, will host the 3rd Virtual Career and Education Fair designed to showcase professional and educational opportunities for transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses, and caregivers. Explore opportunities from the following participating companies and universities:
- Department of Homeland Security
- The Home Depot
- Facebook
- Excelsior College
- FedEx
- Villanova University
- and more
Learn more and RSVP here.
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DVS Programs and Initiatives
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Take the NYC Veterans and Military Community Survey
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Are you a member of NYC's veteran community? If so, take the NYC Veteran and Military Community Survey today! DVS will use your responses to shape programs and policies designed to improve the lives of veterans, military spouses, caregivers, and active duty service members across the five boroughs. 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 submitting your information to VetConnectNYC.
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DVS's Mission: VetCheck offers supportive check-in calls to veterans across NYC. Request a check-in call for you or a veteran you know by contacting VetCheck@veterans.nyc.gov or by visiting the Mission: VetCheck website.
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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, please submit your information to VetConnectNYC.
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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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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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How DVS Responded to the Pandemic
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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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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:
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