Initiatives

The NYC Department of Veterans' Services (DVS) has several initiatives to support the CIty's veteran community. See below to learn more about DVS programs and initiatives:

• Big Apple Transition Assistance Program (TAP): A transition assistance program for transitioning servicemembers and their families that provides information about the many programs and services unique to New York City.


• Ending Chronic Veteran Homelessness: The DVS Housing and Support Services team has housed over 1,000 homeless veterans and stood up an aftercare unit to help ensure that the veterans whom DVS houses remain housed, avoiding a return to housing insecurity.


• The Final Honors Program: The Final Honors Program program ensures that eligible unclaimed and homeless veterans are given dignified burials at a national cemetery.


• Mission: VetCheck: an initiative that allows volunteers to make supportive check-in calls to New York City veterans. Volunteers provide their peers with vital information on essential public services, COVID-19 resources and testing locations, and online mental health support.

• Support for Veteran Service Organizations: DVS has provided grants to Veteran Service Organizations that have struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic.


• VA Claims Unit: In 2020, accredited DVS staff members began helping NYC veterans and their families process Veterans Affairs (VA) claims.


• VA Work-Study at DVS: DVS supports VA Work-Study positions.


• VetBizNYC: In 2021, DVS launched VetBizNYC, an interactive map that identifies Veteran-owned businesses across NYC.
  


• Veteran Voices Project: The Veterans Voices Project is an oral history project designed to preserve the story of NYC's veteran community.


• Veterans on Campus: Veterans on Campus is an initiative to assist academic institutions to support their student veteran body.