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NYC Department of Veterans' Services (DVS) Weekly Newsletter
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DVS to Launch Veteran-Owned Business Map
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This spring, the NYC Department of Veterans' Services (DVS) will launch an online interactive map to make it easier for New Yorkers to find and support Veteran-Owned Businesses (VOBs) in their community. Veteran business owners and entrepreneurs can add their business to the upcoming NYC VOB Map by submitting their information here.
To learn more visit nyc.gov/vetbizmap.
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Human Rights Panel for
Women in Uniformed Services & Veterans
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DVS and the NYC Commission On Human Rights will host a panel discussion for women in uniformed services and veterans. Panelists will focus on New York City and New York State human rights laws designed to protect women and will discuss available resources.
WHEN: Thursday, April 29th| 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
RSVP here (register by April 29th)
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Free Groceries & Produce for Veterans
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This week, DVS joined the NYC Department of Probation for a Veterans-Only Pop-up to provide veterans and their families free groceries. Special thanks to South Bronx NeON Nutrition Kitchen for preparing the food.
Our final Veterans-Only Pop-up will be held next Thursday! Spread the word:
WHEN: Thursday, April 29th | 9:00 am -12:00 pm
WHERE: 198 E 161 Street, Bronx, NY 10451 (parking lot)
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Have You Filled Out the
NYC Veteran & Military Community Survey?
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To all NYC veterans, service members, military families, and caregivers: You’ve done a lot for your country. Tell NYC policymakers what they can do for you!
When you take the NYC Veteran and Military Community Survey, you are helping to make this City a better home for veterans and their families. Your survey responses will inform public policy and future programs. To take the survey, click here.
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Five Years of Service: Shoutouts
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As we continue to celebrate five years of service, we recognize the partnerships that make our work possible. A special shoutout goes to AT&T! Their generous support allowed NYC student veterans the opportunity to attend Student Veterans of America’s National Conference, NatCon, the largest gathering of post 9/11 veterans in the world. Students veterans who attended connected to employers, networked with peers, and participated in career-building workshops.
"I joined the resume building, 'Financial Tips for Life After Lockdown', and peer intervention workshops. I will use the resources I gained at NatCon to revamp my resume, explore more of my VA benefits, and seek more volunteer opportunities." - Kwame Warner, Berkeley College
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Attention Veteran Entrepreneurs
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Join NYU's Veteran Future Lab's Apex Incubator
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Are you a veteran or military spouse leading an early-stage venture? If so, apply to join the Veterans Future Lab Apex incubator! This FREE program offers NYU Tandon Future labs resources, housing awards for select founders, access to a makerspace, and more. To apply, click here.
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Career Opportunity for Veterans:
Join the NYPD
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The NYPD needs recruits who know how to serve their community. As a veteran, you may be the right fit.
Registration is now open for the Police Officer Exam. Veterans are encouraged to register. Veterans can also submit a fee waiver during registration.
The registration period ends on April 29th. The exam will be administered in June 2021. For more information, please visit nypdrecruit.com or call 212-Recruit. If you have any questions, you can also contact DVS at connect@veterans.nyc.gov.
Requirements
- Qualifying Age: The minimum age of appointment is 21 years old. However, candidates are eligible to take the Police Officer’s Entrance Exam at seventeen and one half (17½) years old. Candidates may take the Entrance Exam up until their 35th birthday.
- Education: You must have two years of active military service in the U.S. Armed Forces OR earned 60 college credits with a minimum 2.0 GPA from an accredited institution to be appointed to the title of Police Officer.
- Residency: You must also be a US citizen, have a valid NY driver's license, and live in one of the city's five boroughs or Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, or Orange counties within 30 days of being hired.
- Disqualifiers: Candidates will be disqualified if they have been convicted of a felony, domestic violence misdemeanor, or have been dishonorably discharged from the military.
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Virtual Events for Military Families
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Celebrate Month of the Military Child
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Email benjamin.pomerance@veterans.ny.gov to register for any of the following events:
Tour the Space Shuttle Enterprise: Launch on a virtual tour of the Space Shuttle Enterprise at the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum.
WHEN: Saturday, April 17th | 1:00 pm
Swim with Sharks and Stingrays: Plunge into an online dive at the Long Island Aquarium to observe sharks and stingrays.
WHEN: Sunday, April 18th | 1:00 pm
Baseball Hall of Fame Tour: Swing away and join a virtual tour of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
WHEN: Saturday, April 24th | 12:30 pm
Meet the Otters: Swim with river otters during a virtual trip at the Wild Center's Otter Falls.
WHEN: Saturday, May 1st | 2:00 pm
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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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Protect Yourself and Your City
Double mask social distance in public, avoid gatherings, get tested often - even if you've been vaccinated.
COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility:
Any New Yorker over 16 years old is now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more here.
Update on Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
Per U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidance, NYC paused Johnson & Johnson vaccinations as the City awaits the results of an investigation to determine risk factors. New Yorkers who scheduled a Johnson & Johnson vaccine appointment will be rescheduled for a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
Scheduling a Vaccine Appointment
Schedule a vaccine appointment at nyc.gov/vax4nyc 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're eligible for an in-home vaccination, please fill out the Interest Form here or call 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692) to request in-home vaccination.
Vaccines at the VA:
The SAVE LIVES Act will allow the VA to provide COVID-19 vaccines to all veterans, regardless of their VA health care enrollment status, as well as veteran spouses, caregivers, & CHAMPVA beneficiaries. Vaccines are limited and VA locations will continue to prioritize vaccinations to veterans enrolled in VA health care. To indicate your interest in receiving a vaccine from VA, click here. Please DO NOT visit VA facilities for a COVID-19 vaccine without an appointment. Learn more about the SAVE LIVES Act here.
Veterans enrolled in VA health care can call 1-877-877-9267 to make an appointment at one of the following locations:
Eligible veterans enrolled at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center (Bronx VA) can schedule an appointment by calling (718) 584-9000 ext. 4640, Monday through Friday, 8:30 - 4:00-pm.
Vaccine Side Effects
Most people report some side effects from the COVID-19 vaccines, which are usually signs that the body is building protection. Learn more here.
After You Get Vaccinated
See guidelines for fully vaccinated people here.
Vaccines are Free:
Vaccines are FREE no matter what.
Vaccines Are Safe:
According to the CDC, "COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective." Learn more here.
Vaccine FAQ
Do you still have questions? Check out NYC's Vaccine FAQ here.
Funeral Expenses
FEMA will soon provide financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred after January 20th, 2020, for deaths related to COVID-19. 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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