Committee on Veterans (2026)

Part 12: NYC Department of Veterans' Services: Veteran Advocacy, Access to Services, and Responsibility to Homeless Veterans

Key Findings

The New York City Department of Veterans' Services (DVS) was established to serve as the primary city agency responsible for connecting veterans, service members, caregivers, survivors, and families with resources and support. According to its stated mission, DVS seeks to "connect, mobilize, and empower New York City's Veteran community" to help veterans achieve purpose-driven lives after military service.

For veterans experiencing homelessness, this mission carries additional importance. Veterans entering the homeless services system frequently face complex challenges involving PTSD, disabilities, medical conditions, lost documentation, unemployment, incarceration history, and difficulty accessing benefits. Many veterans require more than information; they require coordination between agencies and assistance navigating complicated systems.

Concerns reviewed in this report questioned whether DVS exercised sufficient involvement regarding the conditions and outcomes at the Borden Avenue Veterans' Residence (BAVR), New York City's only federally funded Veterans Affairs Grant and Per Diem (GPD) transitional housing program.

Role of DVS in Veteran Homelessness

The VA Grant and Per Diem Program was created as a transitional housing program designed to move veterans from homelessness into permanent stability. The program emphasizes safe housing, VA healthcare connection, case management, employment support, transportation, and community integration.

Although Borden Avenue operates through DHS and the Institute for Community Living, the veterans served by the program remain part of the community DVS was created to support.

Concerns raised by veterans identified a gap between agency responsibilities. While DHS manages shelter operations and contracts, veterans reported looking to DVS as the agency responsible for ensuring their voices were heard and their access to services protected.

The concern identified was that veterans often do not need another referral or another agency contact. Veterans experiencing crisis frequently need assistance coordinating solutions between systems that may already exist.

Access to VA Resources and Transitional Support

A recurring issue identified throughout this report involved whether veterans at Borden Avenue were consistently connected with available VA resources.

The GPD program is intended to provide access to:

• VA healthcare
• Disability benefits assistance
• HUD-VASH housing support
• Employment programs
• Mental health services
• Community resources

Reports submitted regarding Borden Avenue described concerns involving limited transportation to VA appointments, limited veteran-centered programming, and barriers accessing resources intended to support successful transition into permanent housing.

The role of DVS becomes especially important because many veterans experiencing homelessness may not understand what programs they qualify for or how to resolve problems when services fail.

Veterans With Lived Experience and Outreach

DVS has recognized the importance of outreach and connecting veterans to available services. However, concerns were raised that veterans experiencing homelessness and veterans living within transitional programs were not consistently included in policy discussions affecting them.

Veterans with lived experience provide direct knowledge regarding:

• Shelter conditions
• Housing barriers
• VA access challenges
• Documentation problems
• Transition difficulties

The effectiveness of veteran policy depends on including the perspectives of veterans currently navigating those systems.

Need for Coordination and Accountability

Ending veteran homelessness requires coordination between DVS, DHS, VA, nonprofit providers, and community organizations.

The concern identified in this report is not whether agencies exist, but whether veterans experience those agencies as a connected support system.

A veteran transitioning from homelessness should not have to determine which agency is responsible for each barrier. Effective coordination requires agencies to work collectively so veterans receive timely assistance.

Oversight should examine:

• How DVS tracks concerns raised by homeless veterans
• How unresolved issues are escalated
• How DVS coordinates with DHS and providers
• How veterans with lived experience participate in decisions

Conclusion

The New York City Department of Veterans' Services occupies a unique position within the city's veteran support system. Unlike other agencies, DVS exists specifically because veterans have experiences and needs that require focused attention.

The concerns surrounding Borden Avenue demonstrate the importance of having a strong veteran-centered agency involved when homeless veterans encounter barriers accessing housing, healthcare, and support.

While DHS may manage shelter contracts and providers may operate facilities, veterans often look to DVS as the agency responsible for ensuring they are not forgotten within larger systems.

The purpose of veteran services cannot be limited to directing veterans toward resources. The purpose must include ensuring that those resources are accessible, effective, and producing successful outcomes.

For veterans transitioning from homelessness, incarceration, medical challenges, or military service, advocacy and coordination can determine whether a program becomes another temporary stop or the foundation for permanent stability.

The ultimate measure of DVS success is whether New York City's veterans can access the services they earned and successfully rebuild their lives.