Resources

 

National Veteran’s Crisis Line

​​​ If you are in crisis and need to speak with a crisis responder, please call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1.

The Veterans Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource that’s available to anyone, even if you’re not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care. The caring, qualified responders at the Veterans Crisis Line are specially trained and experienced in helping Veterans of all ages and circumstances.

Since its launch in 2007, the Veterans Crisis Line has answered nearly 4.9 million calls and initiated the dispatch of emergency services to callers in crisis more than 159,000 times. The Veterans Crisis Line anonymous online chat service, added in 2009, has engaged in more than 565,000 chats. In November 2011, the Veterans Crisis Line introduced a text-messaging service to provide another way for Veterans to connect with confidential, round-the-clock support and since then has responded to nearly 176,000 texts.

If you’re a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one, there are caring, qualified VA responders standing by to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

America’s Vet Dogs

The service dog programs of America’s VetDogs® were created to provide enhanced mobility and renewed independence to United States veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders with disabilities, allowing them to once again live with pride and self-reliance. Not only does a service dog provide support with daily activities, it provides the motivation to tackle every day challenges.

VetDogs trains and places service dogs for those with physical disabilities; guide dogs for individuals who are blind or have low vision; service dogs to help mitigate the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder; and facility dogs as part of the rehabilitation process in military and VA hospitals.

It costs over $50,000 to breed, raise, train, and place one assistance dog; however, all of VetDogs’ services are provided at no charge to the individual. Funding comes from the generosity of individuals, corporations, foundations, businesses, and community organizations.

California Veteran Programs & National Veteran Crisis Hotline

California is home to nearly 1.6 million veterans. They range in age from World War II veterans in their 90's to “Millennials” from the current conflicts. Each generation has a different need and interest and each has a different way to learn about those services and benefits, but the one common element for all of you (and your family) is you stood up, put on the uniform and served in the U.S. Military. You are a veteran and because of that distinction you have earned benefits and services that will help you transition back to civilian life, or help you when you are finished with your civilian career and are now looking at retirement.

CalVet offers a variety of services to honorably discharged veterans from residency in one of our state Veterans Homes to helping you purchase a home through our Farm and Home Loan program. This department also advocates for veterans, providing information and representation before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. There are many services, benefits and preferences provided to you by the people of California as a way to honor your service…explore this site and find out what you may have been missing.

Feed Our Vets

Since 2008, Feed Our Vets has provided free food assistance to more than 20,000 Veterans and their family members, distributing 445,000 lbs. of food.

Feed Our Vets is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to help Veterans in the United States, their spouses and children whose circumstances have left them on the battlefield of hunger, and to involve the public in fighting Veteran hunger. We do this through:

- Community food pantries that provide regular, free food distributions to veterans and their families

- Distribution of related goods and services.

- Public education and outreach

More than 130,000 Veterans are homeless and hungry on any given night in America. One in three homeless people in America is a U.S. Military Veteran. And nearly four million Veterans and their families don’t have enough to eat during the year. We provide food for veterans throughout the US.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States. The Lifeline is comprised of a national network of over 180 local crisis centers, combining custom local care and resources with national standards and best practices.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a leader in suicide prevention and mental health crisis care. Since its inception, the Lifeline has engaged in a variety of initiatives to improve crisis services and advance suicide prevention for all, including innovative public messaging, best practices in mental health, and groundbreaking partnerships.


Veteran’s Transportation Program: VA

VA’s Veterans Transportation Program (VTP) offers Veterans many travel solutions to and from their VA health care facilities. This program offers these services at little or no costs to eligible Veterans through the following services:

  • Beneficiary Travel (BT)

  • Veterans Transportation Service (VTS)

  • Highly Rural Transportation Grants (HRTG)