On Veterans Day, NYC Council Announces New Paul A. Vallone Veteran Resource Centers Initiative to Help Veterans Access Benefits and Support Programs

City Hall, NY - On Veterans Day, the New York City Council announced the creation of the Paul A. Vallone Veteran Resource Centers, a first-of-its-kind, Council-led citywide initiative to help veterans navigate and secure federal and local benefits programs that support their health and well-being. The initiative, which is supported by a $540,000 Council funding allocation in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, expands critical access to trained assistance for veterans and their families in all five boroughs.

Through this initiative in partnership with the Department of Veterans Services (DVS) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Department of New York, Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) will be available on-site in every Council District to provide in-person assistance and help veterans file claims, prepare documentation, navigate appeals, and understand the full range of benefits available to them. By bringing this service to every neighborhood across the city, the program removes the travel, time, and technology barriers that prevent many veterans, particularly older adults, from getting the support they need.

"New York City's veterans have served our country and deserve access to the resources that support their needs," said Speaker Adrienne Adams. "The Paul A. Vallone Veteran Resource Centers initiative represents a vital investment in our veterans and their families by offering the assistance of Veteran Service Officers in every neighborhood and helping remove barriers to care. The Council is proud to build on the legacy of my good friend and former colleague, Council Member Paul Vallone, who was always dedicated to supporting our city's veterans. I thank the Department of Veterans Services and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department for their partnership in ensuring no veteran is left behind."

Despite the wide range of federal and local benefits available to them, most New York City veterans do not identify as having served, which contributes to low utilization of resources. Additionally, the number of accredited VSOs available to assist veterans has declined due to cultural and logistical challenges, including chronic underinvestment by the federal government in staff who support processing benefits.

Launched during Veterans Awareness Month in November, this initiative honors the legacy of late, former Council Member Paul A. Vallone, a devoted champion for veterans who played a key role in the establishment of New York City's Department of Veterans Services in 2015. Vallone later served as Deputy Commissioner of DVS.

"We may question the wisdom of war, but never the courage and selflessness of the warrior," said Council Member Justin Brannan, Chair of the Committee on Finance. "Our veterans put their lives and futures on the line, just to keep us and our loved ones back home safe and secure. We owe it to them and their families to make sure not only that support systems for veterans exist, but also that they are readily available and easily accessed. Our investment in the new Paul A. Vallone Veteran Resource Centers not only delivers on that principle, but is a fitting way to honor the late, great Council Member Vallone, who showed us what true support for veterans looks like in New York City."

"The Vallone Veteran Resource Centers are about equity in access and excellence in delivery. By meeting Veterans where they are-with accredited Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) ready to file claims, gather evidence, and guide appeals-we remove friction and increase uptake of earned benefits," said New York City Department of Veterans' Services Commissioner James Hendon. "We're proud to partner with the Council and the VFW to honor Paul Vallone's legacy with practical, street-level results."

"The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Department of New York, is excited to be part of the Paul A. Vallone Veteran Resource Centers Council Initiative," said Colin Anderson, Director of Veteran Services, VFW Department of New York. "VFWNY Commander James MacArthur is extremely pleased the Vallone Initiative has become reality. The VFW Department of New York's Veteran Service Officers are looking forward to providing much needed services to the veterans of New York City. We are happy to partner with the New York City Council and the NYC Department of Veterans Services to bring the Paul A. Vallone Initiative to fruition."

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