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Dept. of Veterans Affairs Grant Empowers VLGS To Serve Homeless Veterans [1]

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Date: 2024-08-08 10:05:15+00:00

Recognizing its unique experience and capacities in providing direct legal services to veterans, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs awarded the Veterans Legal Assistance Program (VLAP) a $300,000 grant to provide civil legal services to homeless veterans and service people at risk of homelessness.

The VA selected 108 programs nationally, with Vermont Law and Graduate School in South Royalton being the only grantee in Vermont.

“This award reasserts Vermont Law and Graduate School’s role in and responsibility to the state, aiding neighbors in need and leading to more housing-secure veterans,” said Rodney A. Smolla, president of Vermont Law and Graduate School.

“The hallmark of Vermont Law and Graduate School is its ability to be active contributors to our community even as we apply Vermont values to matters of national and global import. We are proud and privileged to be given the opportunity to deepen our service to Vermont’s veterans.”

Since its founding in 2014, the VLAP has served more than 700 Vermont veterans. It is staffed by one full-time attorney— the only attorney in the state working fulltime on veteran’s legal assistance— along with a fellow who specializes in housing insecurity issues and second- and third-year law student clinicians who work directly with clients.

“VLAP is a statewide enterprise that has earned its reputation the hard way by building trust and demonstrating skill and compassion,” said Don Hayes, director of the South Royalton Legal Clinic where the Veterans Legal Assistance Program is housed.

“This VA grant will solidify and expand our presence across the state. In so doing, VLAP will enhance its links to veterans and the practitioners and social workers who complement our work.”

The 14-month-long grant is intended to respond with immediacy to the dire situation facing Vermont’s veterans. The situation is a perfect storm: combined with poverty, Vermont’s high per-capita population of veterans, tight housing market, rural character and punishing weather, and constrained resources and services find many veterans living on the edge or, tragically, on the streets. VLAP anticipates serving 225 veterans, at least 10% of whom will be women veterans.

VLAP services emphasize housing law, family law, tax law, income support, discharge or dismissal upgrade and access to healthcare. A new partnership with Vermont Legal Aid extends VLAP’s geographic and subject matter reach. VLA will provide representation in tax controversies with the IRS, subsidized housing denials, supplemental security income (SSI) and social security disability insurance (SSDI) overpayments, and financial exploitation cases.

In addition to direct civil legal services, the VA grant is designed to deliver concentrated legal services and build field capacity in several ways:

• Pop-up office hours at VA CBOC locations in Burlington, Newport, Rutland, White River Junction, Bennington and Brattleboro.

• New web tools, promotional materials, and self-help guidance documents, including an audience-specific piece for women veterans emphasizing housing matters.

• Workshops and trainings for public and private stakeholders about the challenges and hurdles facing veterans.

• A trained network of 25 veterans’ law practitioners and others capable of representing veterans.

• At least 20 new student clinicians, with at least 10 clinicians participating in the expanded office hours.

Veterans and practitioners seeking information about services, referrals, partners or providers may contact the South Royalton Legal Clinic at [email protected] or 802-831-1500.

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[1] Url: https://www.ourherald.com/articles/dept-of-veterans-affairs-grant-empowers-vlgs-to-serve-homeless-veterans/

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