Best of 2018: Expanding Access and Serving the Underserved
2018 saw a renewal in DVS’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to resources, services & care, and to ensuring traditionally underserved military populations received the attention they rightfully deserve.
Expanding Access
VetConnectNYC
On Veterans Day, Mayor de Blasio announced the official launch of DVS’s first major procurement initiative, the innovative coordinated care network, VetConnectNYC (VCNYC). The network features more than 80 vetted public, private, and nonprofit service providers offering services ranging from education to legal, employment, healthcare, and more. Accessible online, by phone (833-VETS-NYC), or in person with a DVS outreach coordinator, VCNYC allows veterans and their families to navigate and access multiple resources in fewer steps.
Engagement & Community Services
To better meet the needs of New York City veterans and their families throughout the five boroughs, DVS merged its Whole Health and CE5 units, doubling the agency’s outreach capacity and forming a robust, fully proficient outreach team. Operating under the Engagement & Community Services line of effort, newly cross-trained coordinators expanded office hours and on-site locations, reaching more constituents and offering a wider range of assistance in each borough.
Serving the Underserved
Caregivers
Since its founding DVS has made a priority of supporting not just the veteran and service member, but their families too. The agency teamed up with two national organizations — the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s Hidden Heroes Initiative and the Reimagine Project — to organize programs dedicated to shining a light on the tireless efforts of veteran and military caregivers who all too often go overlooked. Nobody serves alone.
Disconnected Veterans
DVS differs from other municipal and federal agencies in the way it serves veterans by discounting length of service or discharge status as a condition for receiving support. Recognizing that hundreds of New York City veterans find themselves ineligible for benefits that could provide stable and permanent housing, DVS and NYCHA proudly volunteered to be the first city in the country to test the HUD-VASH Continuum Program, a new initiative aimed at supporting this population.
This past year, over 100 of these formerly disconnected veterans and families received rental subsidies to move from transitional housing into safe and permanent homes. Thanks to HELP USA and the Robin Hood Foundation, these veterans also receive case management to ensure a successful transition to their new homes.
Student Veterans
When the federal government fell behind on delivering the GI Bill benefits that our over 12,000 student veterans rely on as their sole means to pay rent, DVS and DSS stepped in. DVS reached out to over 80 colleges and universities in the five boroughs to let them know that any student veteran behind on rent or worse, facing eviction, could get emergency rent arrears assistance from the City.
Women Veterans
New York City is home to over 13,000 women who have served in uniform yet whose service all too often fails to get proper recognition. Through the efforts of our public-private partnerships, DVS was able to dedicate the first monument to women service members and veterans in the New York City area at Calverton National Cemetery — “Women Serve” — to honor the service & sacrifice of women in the military.
2018 Highlights & Milestones
January
- Fostering Knowledge-Sharing: DVS hosted an appointee to the Australian Veterans Review Tribunal to share best practices and the agency’s story of transitioning from the mayor’s office to a fully independent municipal agency
- Honoring Fallen Veterans: DVS representatives worked with documentary filmmakers to showcase the work of veteran service organizations who attend the funerals of fallen veterans with no next-of-kin
February
- Supporting Military Caregivers: DVS hosted a Military Caregivers Convening with Elizabeth Dole’s Hidden Heroes Campaign and Blue Star Families
- Forging Community Partnerships: DVS became a community impact partner with the National Veterans Intermediary, a national collective impact initiative by the Bob Woodruff Foundation that links veterans, service providers, and other stakeholders
March
- Embracing Arts as a Public Health Intervention: DVS Public Artist in Residence Bryan Doerries adapted a reading of A Streetcar Named Desire to address issues around domestic violence
- Celebrating Entrepreneurship: DVS partnered with WeWork and Bunker Labs for their Veterans in Residence Launch event
April
- Helping Veterans in the Justice System: Riker’s Island Correctional Facility opened its veterans-only unit, the first of its kind in New York City
- Encouraging Careers in Public Service: DVS’s Veterans on Campus initiative organized a panel discussion and networking event with representatives from 24 city, state, and federal agencies to assist student veterans interested in exploring careers in public service
May
- Recognizing the Newest Coast Guard City: NYC was designated an official Coast Guard City by the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Paul Zukumpft, in a ceremony at City Hall presided over by Mayor Bill de Blasio
- Convening Partners on Disaster Relief & Humanitarian Response: DVS convened military and agency leadership from the city, state, and federal levels for a day-long symposium at the start of Fleet Week, the Senior Leadership Seminar
- Honoring Fleet Week at City Hall: Deputy Mayor Phil Thompson and Commissioner Loree Sutton hosted Lieutenant General Brilakis and other senior officers from the US Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. During the event, Bryan Doerries staged a special performance of Theater of War
June
- Exploring Technology Careers: DVS participated in Google’s Veteran Workshop, a daylong training program to prepare veterans for careers in the tech industry
- Knowledge-sharing with International Partners: Commissioner Sutton presented about DVS’s Public Artist in Residence program as a public health intervention in Athens, Greece
July
- Capturing Diverse Veteran Voices: On behalf of the NYC Charter Revision Commission, DVS partnered with the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, FDNY, NYPD, the New York City Veterans Alliance, and others to host a town hall soliciting input for the charter revision
- Studying Veterans Treatment Courts: DVS participated in a discussion and tour at the Staten Island Veteran Treatment Court to better understand how to successfully support this model throughout the five boroughs
August
- Creating Partnerships for Crisis Response: DVS partnered with NYU’s Veterans Future Lab to host a round-table discussion with relevant stakeholders to discuss pre- and post-crisis collaboration across public and private sectors
- Welcoming Student Veterans: Through the Veterans on Campus initiative, DVS distributed a comprehensive Student Veteran Welcome Packet to more than 80 colleges and universities to assist student veterans in getting oriented to school in New York City
September
- Expanding Outreach Online: DVS began the groundwork for two new communications initiatives to ensure veterans and their families have access to the most up-to-date and relevant resources: redesigning the agency website and recording the initial sessions for an agency podcast
- Sharing NYC’s Innovations Internationally: DVS participated in a United Nations General Assembly side event about innovation in government, highlighting the successes of the Housing & Support Services Veteran Peer Coordinator program
October
- Honoring Women Veterans: In partnership with the VA, Calverton National Cemetery, and private funeral homes including Dignity Memorial, DVS participated in the dedication and unveiling of “Women Serve,” the first monument in the New York City area honoring the service and sacrifice of women service members & veterans
- Aiding At-Risk Student Veterans: DVS partnered with DSS to create an official letter for student veterans adversely affected by the federal delays in issuing GI Bill benefits & BAH, directing anyone impacted to the eviction prevention program administered by DSS
November
- Streamlining Access to Resources: On Veterans Day, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the launch of DVS’s first major procurement initiative, VetConnectNYC, an innovative coordinated care network which serves as a single point of access for veterans and their families to be connected to resources, services & care
- Housing Disconnected Veterans: DVS and NYCHA marked the one-year anniversary of the HUD-VASH Continuum. The first of its kind in the country, the program opened pathways to place over 100 formerly disconnected veterans and families into safe, permanent housing
- Expanding Capacity to House Homeless Veterans: DVS brought on a full-time Program Director to oversee the agency’s successful Veteran Peer Coordinator (VPC) initiative and expanded the VPC program by 50%
December
- Veterans Employment Pay for Success Program: DVS successfully contracted for the City’s first-ever employment Pay for Success program — a collaborative effort between the VA, DVS, and private-sector partners — to improve suitable employment outcomes for veterans with service-connected PTSD
- Capturing Veteran Stories: DVS recorded the first several sessions for SITREP: The DVS Podcast. The bi-weekly show aims to inform and inspire by telling the stories of New York City veterans, military families, and community supporters. Guest interviews feature candid conversations with DVS staff, constituents, and community partners about their trials & triumphs, motivations for service, and the things they’d like all New Yorkers to know. The podcast launched in January 2019
