This month, the North & Central Illinois Division’s Veterans Services is concluding an 11-month federal grant that has significantly increased legal services for veterans. The Legal Services for Veterans Program (LSV-H) has been focused on assisting female veterans, especially those who are homeless or who are low-income and at risk for becoming homeless.
“We had one veteran who became 100 percent service-connected disabled [the highest rating the Veteran’s Administration can assign for service-related disabilities] and that brought her monthly income from zero to $3,737 a month. That turned her life around,” said Legal Services Coordinator Jessica Parker, who oversaw the program. “We were able to get another veteran’s tuition waived at a college. We filed an education debt waiver for him. He was able to get his diploma and become employed.”
Jessica, a veteran herself of the U.S. Army and Illinois Army National Guard, who also manages the legal services for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, was assisted by one legal services benefit coordinator, Jennifer Hobbs, who conducted outreach to veterans in the Illinois Department of Corrections, Grant and Per Diem Housing programs and more. She screened incoming veterans to identify their legal needs, later removing their legal barriers to housing through resourcing, making referrals to appropriate outside legal agencies and developing claims for state and federal veterans’ benefits.
“We really feel like we are making life-changing impacts on veterans we serve; moving them from homelessness to permanent housing; removing the legal barriers they have,” Jessica said.
Kelly, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps in Peoria, was one of the beneficiaries of the grant program.
“I was facing homelessness for about the third time,” Kelly said. “I was put in touch with Jessica Parker. Through the grant program, Jessica—who is a real fighter for veterans—helped me file for my VA disability. Things are so much better. Now I am getting assistance, and that allows me to focus on myself and on my health. It has changed my life.”
Since the program has had such a tremendous impact, there are plans to file for the LSV-H grant again, if it is available in the next fiscal year, Jessica said.
“Overall, the program has been very successful for our first year. We were able to reach veterans from several different regions of the state; we have served them in different capacities from immigration law to family law to income support. And we have built professional relationships with other community agencies which will assist us in future endeavors,” Jessica said.
The NCI Division’s SSVF operates out of 10 locations throughout Illinois. It includes a plethora of assistance to veterans and their families from rental assistance to transportation and health care navigation services.
