BY JARRETT WHITENER
Digging deeper
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Through AACOG, VOC and other veteran- focused organizations, veterans and their families can receive support and assistance for lifestyle needs and navigating applications to federal programs. But many are hesitant to go through long processes or not knowing where to start the application, Martinez said. “It is important to encourage veterans to ask for help because we can’t help them if they don’t come to us,” Martinez said. Veteran aid Guadalupe County Veterans Outreach Center • 205 E. Weinert St., Seguin • www.guadalupetx.gov/page/vets.home Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8315 • 1000 FM 78, Schertz • www.vfw8315.org Disabled American Veterans • 6401 Wenzel Road, San Antonio • www.davalamo5.org Project Heroes First • 1153 N. Academy Ave., New Braunfels • www.projectheroesfirst.org Alamo Veterans Network • 2700 Northeast Loop 410, Ste. 101, San Antonio • www.aacog.gov/veteran-services San Antonio Northeast Vet Center • 9504 I-35 frontage road, Ste. 214, San Antonio • www.vetcenter.va.gov
while waiting for payments. To assist with the gap, the VFW and similar organizations step in to provide short-term services while guiding veterans through the application process to get the needed long-term care. Heidenwith said the claims process was slowed down for at least two years due to the COVID- 19 pandemic, which caused further delays in veterans having access to support. “They were three or four years behind, and I think they are just getting caught up now, but still a little behind,” he said.
Lyle Heidenwith, senior vice commander for Disabled American Veterans Chapter 61, said disability services and mental health are the primary forms of assistance veterans search for. While veterans can apply for compensation for disabilities, the process can be long and stressful, especially for older veterans who may have a more difficult time providing documentation. “I have seen it take three months, and I have seen it take up to seven years,” Heidenwith said. During the application process, disabled veter- ans are not being compensated, which can lead to income challenges and other lifestyle needs
What’s being done
Funding breakdown
According to 2023 veteran affairs funding, Gua- dalupe County veterans received the most funding compared to counties surrounding San Antonio, reaching expenditures of around $548 million. While many of the services offered around the community are targeted toward veterans, surviv- ing spouses and other family members can also apply to specific programs designed to provide assistance to those who lost a loved one in the military, said Carmen Davila, Guadalupe County public information officer. “We wanted people to be aware that it is a resource for the family,” she said. Russell said aside from disability and surviving spouse services, mental health is one of the grow- ing support areas for veterans, and many veterans do not take advantage of mental health programs.
Guadalupe County
$548.4M
Comal County
$454M
Hays County
$217.9M
SOURCE: GUADALUPE COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
“A lot of the Vietnam veterans have kind of ignored their needs,” Russell said. Alongside mental health support, younger veter- ans have a difficult time readjusting to civilian life after serving, Martinez said.
SOURCE: GUADALUPE COUNTY, ALAMO AREA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
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NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM EDITION
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