Help. Hope. Healing.
Veterans & Military Families
Help for
Veterans
Help does exist.
Too often the veteran, or the veteran's loved ones, do not know where to turn for help. Sometimes it is an immediate crisis connected to mental health issues. Other times, the need is for housing, education, or job assistance.
Don't give up.
Help can be found.
The truth is that many veterans have trust issues with the VA. But the VA has resources that can help, particularly in
no-cost counseling. VA Vet Centers, ideally, employ veterans who are also qualified clinical counselors - so Vet Centers are an opportunity that should not be overlooked. Also, the VA has other mental health resources, and a crisis line. Nonprofits thatcan be
Military
Mental Health
Vet Centers
Readjustment Counseling
www.vetcenter.va.gov
Individual, group, marriage and family counseling is offered in addition to referral and connection to other VA or community benefits and services.
Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of social and psychological services, including professional readjustment counseling to eligible Veterans, active duty service members, including National Guard and Reserve components, and their families.
Veterans Crisis Line
Suicide Prevention Hotline
Text & Chat
The Veterans Crisis Line is a free, anonymous, confidential resource that’s available to anyone, even if you’re not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care.
Call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 or text to 838255.
Confidential Support Is a Call Away
If you’re a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, there are caring, qualified VA responders standing by to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What to Expect
A trained responder will answer your call. The responder will ask you a few questions, such as whether you or the Veteran or Service member you’re concerned about may be in immediate danger or at risk for suicide. You will decide what to share about yourself and what you want to talk about. Learn more.
Privacy Policy
The Veterans Crisis Line is a confidential, secure resource. It is your choice whether or not to share personal information.
Benefits
&Other RESOURCES
10 Wounded Veteran Charities
with high ratings from Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator Rating: Four stars
"Serving honor and need"
The Gary Sinise Foundation was established under the philanthropic direction of Gary Sinise, an actor and forty-year advocate for the nation's military and defenders. The Foundation's outreach supported those who sacrifice to defend the United States: active duty, veterans, first responders, and their families. The Foundation achieves its mission through a number of programs designed to show gratitude for these American heroes through entertainment, family support, and acts of appreciation. The Foundation builds specially adapted homes of severely wounded veterans, hosting daylong morale-boosting celebrations at military medical centers across the country, and providing meals to veterans and their families across the country. The Foundation is committed to ensuring veterans' sacrifices are never forgotten.
Charity Navigator Rating: Four stars plus Impact
"Serving those who preserve our freedom"
The Semper Fi Fund was founded by a dedicated group of military spouses at Camp Pendleton in 2003. The Fund provides direct financial assistance and vital programming for combat wounded, critically ill and catastrophically injured service members and their families during hospitalization and recovery. The Fund also helps to provide housing assistance to injured soldiers and their families, opportunities for children of wounded warriors to attend summer camp, canine assistance, and ongoing transportation assistance, along with several other unique programs aimed at easing the transition for wounded soldiers and their families.
Special Operations Warrior Foundation
Charity Navigator Rating: Four stars plus Impact
"Providing support and assistance to the U.S. military's special operations community"
Special Operations Warrior Foundation was founded in 1980, after the daring attempt to rescue 53 American hostages in Iran, which ended in the tragic loss of 8 servicemen who left behind 17 children. A promise to take care of those 17 children has become the noble mission of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation to educate over 1,200 children and support families of injured service men and women with medical bills. The Foundation provides immediate financial grants to severely combat-wounded and hospitalized Special Operations personnel and their families. It also ensures full financial assistance for post-secondary education to children of Special Operations personnel who lose their lives in the line of duty.
Charity Navigator Rating: Four stars plus Impact
"Helping military families"
Fisher House Foundation builds comfort homes where military and veterans' families can stay free of charge while their loved ones are in the hospital. These homes are located at military and VA hospitals around the world and offer comfortable private rooms with community spaces for families sharing similar experiences.The Foundation operates a program to use donated frequent flyer miles to bring family members to the bedside of injured service members as they recover. And, they provide financial support to other military charities, and families and children of injured, disabled, or fallen veterans.
Freedom Service Dogs of America
Charity Navigator Rating: Four stars
"Free a hero to save a hero!"
Freedom Service Dogs of America (FSD) unleashes the potential of shelter dogs by transforming them into custom-trained, life-changing assistance dogs for people in need, including injured service members and veterans. These service dogs are taught to open doors, pick up items, turn on lights, pull wheelchairs, go for help, and a number of other actions. FSD is donor-funded and doesn't charge its clients for any of its services. They also provide lifetime support for service dogs and their owners.
Air Warrior Courage Foundation
Charity Navigator Rating: Four stars
"Where camaraderie and caring continue"
The Air Warrior Courage Foundation was formed by military aviators to "care for their own." They work closely with the Red River Valley Fight Pilots Association in Virginia to do so. They provide active duty, guard, reserve, retired military personnel and their families with financial assistance for medical, educational, other extraordinary expenses not covered by current military support systems.
Charity Navigator Rating: Four stars plus Impact
"Providing support for the soldiers at Walter Reed National Medical Military Center"
Operation Second Chance provides support for soldiers and Marines while they are being treated for injuries at Walter Reed National Medical Military Center in Bethesda, Maryland. After service members have been released, the organization helps them with their transition back into active duty or civilian life. The Operation aims to aid in the recovery and rehabilitation of service men and women, assist in the modification of housing to accommodate disabled veterans, assist families of wounded service members, and facilitate the transition of wounded service members back into society.
Charity Navigator Rating: Four stars plus Impact
"Restoring: Self - Family - Hope"
Hope for the Warriors was founded by military families at Camp Lejeune in 2006, as they witnessed, firsthand, the effects war imparts on service members and their families. The Organization firmly believes those touched by military service can succeed at home by restoring their sense of self, family, and hope. To achieve this, the Organization provides comprehensive support programs for service members, veterans, and military families that are focused on transition, health and wellness, peer engagement, and connections to community resources.
Charity Navigator Rating: Four stars plus Impact
"Building strong, stable and secure military families"
Operation Homefront's mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so they can thrive -- not simply struggle to get by -- in the communities they have worked so hard to protect.
Their programs offer relief by providing critical financial assistance and transitional housing programs, resiliency through permanent housing and caregiver support, and recurring family support to help military families overcome the short-term "bumps in the road" so they don't become long-term, chronic problems. Over the last 15 years, the Operation has helped more than 3,500 caregivers who provide care and support to injured or disabled service members and veterans.
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
Charity Navigator Rating: Four stars plus Impact
"Making a difference for Sailors, Marines, and their families"
Incorporated in 1904, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society has been meeting the needs of Navy and Marine Corps members, their families, widows, and children for over a century. They aim to provide financial, educational, and other assistance to military members, their families, and survivors in need. They use financial and non-financial resources to identify solutions to meet emerging needs and are committed to using their funds responsibly to help the most people.
This post originally appeared on Charity Navigator.