SERVICES AND RESOURCES
Regardless of when you served, what branch you served in, how you were discharged, whether you were active duty, National Guard or reserves, you sacrificed and served our country and now it is our turn to serve you.
We offer a one-stop approach that is simple, friendly, and easy. At the Veterans One-stop Center, there are no hoops you need to jump through. We are here to serve you. Our services, partners and resources in the community can meet any and all of your unique needs. All of our services are provided to you and your family at no cost.
Our dedicated team helps former service members, and their families find the resources and services they need. One of our case navigators, many of them Veterans themselves, will work with you one-on-one to help identify your needs and help you achieve them. They will be with you every step of the way to make the process as easy as possible for you and your family.
“Because of the Veterans One-stop Center, I will be able to get a house, have healthcare, get medical treatment, and have a quality of life that I didn’t think possible before. I can’t properly put into words how much this means to me. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.” –Dan, Army Veteran
Benefits Counseling Services
Accredited Benefits Counseling Services ensure that Veterans and their families take full advantage of all of the available government-provided benefits. Counseling services range from filing applications for federal disability compensation, pensions, education benefits and insurance, to enrollment in VA Health Care.
This type of counseling also includes accessing state level benefits such as education and targeted annuity programs and making referrals to state agencies that provide Veteran-targeted programs in areas such as employment, homeownership, property tax exemption, motor vehicle registration, substance abuse services and mental health resources.
Veterans benefit counselors are accredited by the Veterans Administration (VA). Services are provided through partnership agreements with federal, state or local government agencies, or with accredited representatives of Veteran service organizations. In-office support provided by the Erie County Veterans Service Agency, as well as the Veterans Benefits Administration, through the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional (Buffalo) Office.
Education Services
Our Education Services support Veterans and family members by offering an understanding and guidance of the educational resources available to them. This means acting as an “education mentor” and assisting clients on their individual paths to furthering their education. Services offered include filing education benefit applications, exploring career goals, selecting appropriate colleges and majors, financial aid planning, and supporting the transition to college. Education services will be integrated with employment counseling services, building an educational component into the client’s personalized plan.
Employment Services
Our Veterans Employment Services team supports Veterans and families on the path toward economic well-being and self-sufficiency. Experienced employment counselors and job developers from Goodwill of Western New York provide a comprehensive menu of employment services such as vocational counseling and skills assessments, resume preparation and job readiness training, occupational skills training/courses offered though affiliated and referral organizations, employment networking activities and focus groups, job search, advocacy and placement assistance, promotion of military acquired skills for civilian career advancement, and more.
Legal Services
Legal services are provided through our partnerships with Neighborhood Legal Services and the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo. This collaboration provides easily accessible civil legal services for Veterans and their families for issues such as Disability Related Matters, Housing Discrimination Cases, Bankruptcies, and more. Our unique model of providing services on-site allows access for Veterans who would otherwise go without the legal help they need.
Legal services are offered on-site to help Veterans and their families stabilize and overcome problematic situations in order to fully transition to civilian life. Providing legal services in a trusted environment helps to address emotional issues. Eligible Veterans receive legal services at no cost.
The Veterans Treatment Court program is available to Veterans with non-violent criminal charges that have either a substance abuse or mental health diagnosis. The goal is to treat the underlying issues that are at the root of the criminal behavior, and the Veteran is given all the tools he/she/they need to return to being a productive member of society. Buffalo is home to one of the nation's first Veterans Treatment Court, which serves the needs of Veterans and their families who find themselves in need of this service.
Financial Counseling
Financial counseling and coaching services are provided through the One-stop’s partnership with community members who are trained to help Veterans and their families manage their finances and access community resources related to financial stability. This service helps clients achieve self-sufficiency by offering free income tax preparation assistance, financial literacy education and assistance in asset building. Trained financial coaches provide group support along with confidential, one-on-one money management education and guidance designed to help Veterans and their families gain and maintain self-sufficiency.
Readjustment Counseling
Therapy and counseling services are provided to address mental health and chemical dependency needs and focus on a variety of behavioral and mental health resources. These services evolve based on client needs and strengths and are designed to complement, not duplicate, other quality community-based resources available to Veterans and their families throughout the broader continuum of care. Some therapies are provided by in-house partner service providers and other needs are met through referrals to outside agencies or VA services.
Housing and Emergency Services
Our housing services provide emergency shelter as well as transitional, supportive, and independent living housing options to Veterans and their families. We are partnered with some of the best community agencies in the area to deliver a wide variety of services which include assistance with developing a plan to sustain permanent housing stability, housing search and placement assistance, follow-up and more. These services are provided through the Veterans Housing Coalition, Belmont Housing, Altamont, and Restoration Society; all leaders in the community that are equipped to handle the needs of homeless and near homeless Veterans.
Emergency Services comes in many forms, from helping Veterans and their families who are experiencing an unforeseen hardship and require immediate temporary assistance, to providing quick and efficient connections to the most appropriate avenue of help. We are here to help.