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Veterans Service Bureau

Legal Services for Veterans

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice



https://www.vljnj.org/
Phone #: (973) 645-1955

VLJ is an award-winning, comprehensive legal services program based in Newark, NJ, with a statewide reach. VLJ's mission is to improve the lives of economically disadvantaged and at-risk adults, children, and families in New Jersey by empowering them with the tools, advice, and pro bono representation to obtain fair and equal treatment within the legal system. The Newark-based organization ensures fair access to the legal system through partnerships with corporations and hundreds of volunteer attorneys. Each year, VLJ’s work impacts more than 3,000 people—including veterans, children, tenants, families, and victims of human trafficking—through 10 pro bono programs. To learn more, please visit www.vljnj.org.

American Bar Association Military Pro Bono Project



https://www.militaryprobono.org/
Phone #: (312) 988-5728

The ABA Military Pro Bono Project connects eligible, active-duty service members with pro bono attorneys to assist with the resolution of civil legal issues. If you are an active-duty member of the military eligible for services through your military legal assistance office (which may include certain members of the Reserves and National Guard), you may be eligible for a referral for legal help through the Military Pro Bono Project.

The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program



https://www.vetsprobono.org/
Phone #: 1 (888) 838-7727

We provide training free of charge to attorneys who agree to counsel and/or represent a veteran/VA claimant or family member before the Veterans Court. As well as receiving the day-long training, attorneys who participate are assigned a case that has been screened for merit and provided a screening memo outlining the issues in the case. Volunteers are also assigned a mentor (a practicing veterans' law lawyer or practitioner) to give advice and share sample pleadings. Attorneys also receive the Veterans Benefits Manual (VBM) and other resource materials.

Important Phone Numbers

Helpful VA phone numbersToll-free numberHours
MyVA411 (VA's main information line)800-698-241124/7
Telecommunications Relay Services (using TTY)71124/7

VA Health CareToll-free numberHours
Health care benefits877-222-8387Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET
My HealtheVet help desk877-327-0022Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET
Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA)800-733-8387Monday through Friday, 8:05 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET
CHAMPVA Meds by Mail888-385-0235 or 866-229-7389Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. MT, or Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET
Foreign Medical Program (FMP)877-345-8179Monday through Friday, 8:05 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. ET
Quit VET (get help from a counselor to stop smoking)855-784-8838Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET
MISSION Act800-698-2411, Select 124/7
Spina Bifida Health Care Benefits Program888-820-1756Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET
Caregiver support line855-260-3274Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET

VA BenefitsToll-free numberHours
VA benefits hotline800-827-1000Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET
GI Bill hotline888-442-4551Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET
Students outside the U.S.1-918-781-5678Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET
National pension call center877-294-6380Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET
Support for SGLI or VGLI800-419-1473Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET
All other VA life insurance programs800-669-8477Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET
Special issue hotline (Blue Water Navy Act, Gulf War, Agent Orange, and other information)800-749-8387Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET

Burials and memorialsToll-free numberHours
National Cemetery Scheduling Office800-535-1117Every day, 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET
Headstones and markers800-697-6947Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET

Other VA SupportToll-free numberHours
Women Veterans hotline855-829-6636Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET
eBenefits technical support800-983-0937Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET
Debt Management Center (collection of nonmedical debts)800-827-0648Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET
Vets Center call center877-927-838724/7
White House VA hotline855-948-231124/7
Veterans Crisis Line800-273-8255, Select 124/7


Vet Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255

Services for Homeless Veterans

A report by Monarch Housing says in 2020, there were nearly 400 homeless people reported living in Ocean County. Out of the homeless population, 2.3% of the homeless adults counted are Veterans. There are resources designed to help provide the homeless Veterans of Ocean County with housing and other services. These resources are as follows:

Soldier On



https://wesoldieron.org/
Phone #: 1 (866) 406-8449

Soldier On is a nationally recognized non-profit organization governed by a full-time President, CEO and a volunteer Board of Directors. We work in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs and other agencies to provide veterans with shelter and support in an environment that offers dignity, integrity, and, most importantly, hope. Our mission is to offer a continuum of care that includes immediate and long-term housing with services delivered where they live. Soldier On’s ultimate goal is to provide formerly homeless veterans with permanent, supportive, sustainable housing – assisting them in their transition from homelessness to homeownership.

Community Hope / Hope for Veterans



https://www.communityhope-nj.org/what-we-do/hope-for-veterans/
Phone #: 1 (855) 483-8466

A proactive approach to helping veterans and their families with immediate support when facing homelessness. We provide rapid re-housing to homeless veterans in addition to keeping veteran households from losing their housing when they are facing eviction. Our first priority is to either assist the family in remaining in their current housing, or, if they are homeless, to quickly locate and help them secure affordable housing. To accomplish this, we assist in the housing search; provide access to emergency housing when possible in the interim; intervene with landlords; provide support and case management services that can include assistance with medical care, mental health or substance abuse treatment, child care and job training. Temporary financial assistance may also be available to help with such expenses as security deposits, back rent, utility payments or bedding and household essentials.

Delivering a rapid response has proven essential to meeting the needs of veterans and their families, especially those we have rescued from living in shelters, emergency motels, their cars or the woods.

Operation Chill Out



https://operationchillout.org/homeless-veterans/
Phone #: (908) 509-1462

NJSFWC President Jan Hanson announced that our Special State Project for 2020-2022 will be Operation Chillout. OPERATION CHILLOUT is New Jersey’s oldest (and only) all-volunteer mobile outreach for homeless veterans, men and women, on mission since December 21, 2000. Its motto is “no borders-no boundaries.” Its mission is to respond to the crisis of homelessness with direct compassionate actions.

Preferred Behavioral Health of New Jersey



https://www.homelessassistance.us/li/preferred_behavioral_health_of_new_jersey_08701
Phone #: (732) 367-2665

Preferred Behavioral Health of New Jersey is a State of NJ PATH Provider. PATH stands for Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness. PATH program funds service people with serious mental illness experiencing homelessness. PATH providers are local public or nonprofit organizations that have receive US Government PATH funding to provide services to people who are not currently connected to mainstream services.

Veterans Affairs Homeless Programs



https://www.va.gov/homeless/
Phone #: 1 (877) 424-3838

Veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness are strongly encouraged to contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1 (877) 424-3838 for assistance. If Veterans do not have access to a phone or the internet, only then are they to visit their closest VA medical center without calling in advance. The nearest VA Medical Center is James J. Howard Outpatient Clinic, 970 NJ-70, Brick Township, NJ 08724.
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COUNTY OF OCEAN

101 Hooper Avenue
Toms River, NJ 08753

732.244.2121

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