Urban Justice Center – Veteran Advocacy Project

Vet Center Medical-Legal Partnerships

Location: New York City

The Veteran Advocacy Project (VAP) provides free civil legal services to low-income New York City veterans. The VAP addresses veterans’ legal challenges that, unresolved, might spiral into more significant individual crises. This medical/legal partnership is unique in that VAP partners with Vet Centers, rather than alternative VA hospitals and facilities. By doing so, VAP reaches veterans who are more likely to be distrustful of the government or who may not qualify for other VA services. A VAP advocate at each Vet Center will ensure efficient use of VAP’s legal resources to remove barriers to health care, appeal denials of benefits, prevent evictions, connect individuals to programs, and keep client veterans on a path to wellness. This BWF investment in public-private engagement between VAP and VA resources permits VAP to expand to three additional New York City Vet Centers, and will help ensure that an increased number of New York veterans receive the appropriate social services to remain on a path to wellness.