Veterans Service officer says programs aim to end homelessness, suicide
SEAVILLE – Monday’s Veterans Day service at Osprey Point in Upper Township took a pragmatic turn as a Veterans Service Office speaker implored veterans to take advantage of programs available to them.
Alicia Kagan of the Atlantic County Veterans Service Office also took special pains to note two big issues among veterans they are trying hard to combat: homelessness and suicide.
She was the main speaker at ceremonies at Osprey Point, hosted by resident James Joyce. The service was moved indoors because of rain earlier in the morning; veterans, many from American Legion Post 239 in Tuckahoe, and supporters packed the clubhouse.
The services had many of the trappings of annual commemorations in honor of those who have served this nation, including patriotic songs and an American flag dedicated to honor the late Albert R. Hill, a veteran of the U.S. Merchant Marines. Cape May County American Legion Commander Bill Archer presented the colors and Cindy Arlia led the national anthem and “God Bless America.”
Upper Township Mayor Jay Newman spoke briefly, thanking veterans for their service.
The largest segment of the morning service was a talk by Kagan, who said it is important to make it as easy and straightforward as possible to get benefits to deserving veterans because they are the ones who are asked to put their lives on the line for the country.
She said the Veterans Service Office (VSO) in Atlantic County, like its counterpart in Cape May County and all of the other counties in New Jersey, exist to help connect veterans with the services they need and navigate the often complex workings of the Veterans Administration (VA). The services, she said, run from education to employment and housing to quality health care. The VSO also can help connect veterans to other services and benefits such as senior services offered by county and state government.
One of the recent big pushes is trying to stop homelessness among the veteran populations. The state is rolling out the program currently. It is adding extended vouchers to go beyond what the VA offers.
Kagan noted that in Cape May County, it is hard to house people on a full-time basis because a lot of properties make their money during the busy summer tourist season so they don’t necessary want to rent all year long.
“There are homeless veterans in Cape May County. The state is going to add extra incentives for landlords to make it worthwhile financially to house homeless veterans,” Kagan said. “Look for more information as that rolls out through the end of the year. That is something we can all focus on.”
The other issue Kagan said that is very important to her is trying to end suicide among veterans. She cited a strong peer support program based out of the Wilmington, Del. VA.
“I personally have seen a lot of results. It is a tremendous program,” she said. “We have veterans helping other veterans to get past whatever they need to get past to move forward in life.” The program, she noted, is holistic.
“Yes, they focus on what they can do to get past feelings they have, but they also help them with employment, resume writing, make sure they’re hooked up with the VA, that they get the benefits they should get,” Kagan said. “That’s where I come in. A lot of what we do is make sure veterans get both the health care side of it plus the financial side of it.”
Kagan said there are a lot of programs available to veterans and the VSO in Atlantic and Cape May counties are there to help veterans with things including VA disability claims and ratings, benefits for spouses and dependents, home health care support, geriatric care, visiting nurses, a state tax credit for veterans, and a New Jersey medal program that can provide ceremonies for veterans to recognize them for their service.
“The VA can be hard to navigate and to get them to understand what you want. That is where myself and my coworkers come in,” Kagan said. “To help you navigate through the VA and make sure you are getting what you are supposed to ….”
“There is a lot of stuff out there,” she said. “Remember to speak to somebody because there are probably benefits out there that you’re not aware of.”
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff