Resources

Veterans Crisis Helpline

You are not alone.
Help is available.

If you are a Veteran in crisis or know one who is, call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 to confidentially speak with a trained, caring VA responder and get connected to services that can make a difference. Or, chat online with a VA responder to receive anonymous support now. Click here for more information.

The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring VA responders through a confidential, toll-free hotline and online chat.

Veterans and their families and friends can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 or chat online to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Learn more about the Veterans Crisis Line and what the VA is doing to help Veterans who face serious challenges or who may be at risk of suicide.

You may find additional guidance through the Coaching into Care program.

Learn to Recognize the Signs

Many Veterans may not show any signs of intent to harm themselves before doing so, but some actions can be a sign that a Veteran needs help. Veterans who are considering suicide often show signs of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and/or hopelessness, such as:

Appearing sad or depressed most of the time
Clinical depression: deep sadness, loss of interest, trouble sleeping and eating—that doesn’t go away or continues to get worse
Feeling anxious, agitated, or unable to sleep
Neglecting personal welfare, deteriorating physical appearance
Withdrawing from friends, family, and society, or sleeping all the time
Losing interest in hobbies, work, school, or other prior interests
Frequent and dramatic mood changes
Expressing feelings of excessive guilt or shame
Feelings of failure or decreased performance
Feeling that life is not worth living, having no sense of purpose in life
Talk about feeling trapped—like there is no way out of a situation
Having feelings of desperation, and saying that there’s no solution to their problems

Their behavior may be dramatically different from their normal behavior, or they may appear to be actively contemplating or preparing for a suicidal act through behaviors such as:

Performing poorly at work or school
Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities—seemingly without thinking
Showing violent behavior such as punching holes in walls, getting into fights or self-destructive violence; feeling rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge
Looking as though one has a “death wish,” tempting fate by taking risks that could lead to death, such as driving fast or running red lights
Giving away prized possessions
Putting affairs in order, tying up loose ends, and/or making out a will
Seeking access to firearms, pills, or other means of harming oneself

If you are a Veteran or know a Veteran who is showing any of the above warning signs, please call the Veterans Crisis Line or chat online today.

Fighting Homelessness

The West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance is committed to helping homeless veterans.

West Virginia Veterans Home

The West Virginia Veterans Home in Barboursville, West Virginia can serve as a convenient and comfortable home in time of need for veterans who were discharged under honorable conditions. See here for more information or call 304-736-1027.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) believes that any Veteran who is at risk of homelessness or who is trying to exit homelessness should have easy access to programs and services. See the VA’s page on Homeless Veteran resources here or call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838.

Hershel “Woody” Williams VA Medical Center

The Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC), located at 624 9th Street in Huntington, West Virginia, can provide veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with one-stop access to community-based multiagency services to promote permanent housing, health and mental health care, career development and access to VA and non-VA benefits. Call Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. for assistance. 304-429-6755.

Find a homeless shelter

Homeless Shelter Directory provides a list of homeless shelters in West Virginia. This list includes emergency shelters, homeless shelters, and transitional housing opportunities.

Find a food bank

Homeless Shelter Directory provides a list of emergency food programs in West Virginia. This list includes Soup Kitchens, Food Pantries, and food banks.

Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)

The SSVF Program was authorized by Public Law 110-387 and provides supportive services to very low-income Veteran families that are currently in or transitioning to permanent housing. SSVF is designed to rapidly re-house Veteran families and prevent homelessness for those at imminent risk due to a housing crisis.

West Virginia Community Action Partnership
Volunteers of America

West Virginia Coalition to end Homelessness

The WV Coalition to end Homelessness is committed to the cause of ending homelessness in West Virginia. They seek to unite service providers, state agencies, business and concerned members of the community to achieve this goal. For more information see their website here - https://www.wvceh.org, For immediate assistance, call the WVCEH Coordinated Entry System Intake Line – 833-722-2014

Marshall Center for Business and Economic Research Assessment of Housing Needs for West Virginia Veterans

The WVDVA commissioned the Marshall Center for Business and Economic Research to assess and report on Housing Needs for West Virginia Veterans. This report gives us a greater understanding of the challenges veterans face throughout the state. You can view the final report here.

Employment

WorkForce West Virginia stands ready to help jobseekers kickstart their future career and offers many resource assistance opportunities thgoughout every step of the job searching process. Services are provided to all veterans through a network of Career Centers throughout the state.

West Virginia Veteran Statistics

Veterans Facilities

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has several facilities in West Virginia. There are 4 VA Medical Centers, 11 Outpatient Clinics, 7 Vet Centers. In addition to medical facilities, there is a Regional Office in Huntington and two National Veterans Cemeteries in Grafton.

According to the most recent VA state summary, released in 2019, there were 141,341 veterans in West Virginia, 11,959 of whom are women, and 10,994 of whom are retirees. Veterans make up 8.5 percent of the population, higher than the national average of 6.8 percent. 69,707 Veterans in the state, 49.3 percent, are 65 years old or older.

Many state Veterans are receiving VA Healthcare and/or other Benefits

Number of WV Veterans Receiving Disability Compensation: 37,389
Number of WV Veterans Receiving Non-Service-Connected Pension: 1,860
Number of Dependency & Indemnity Compensation Beneficiaries: 4,172
Number of WV Veterans using Education Benefits: 12,820
Number of WV Veterans enrolled in the VA Healthcare System: 74,896

In 2021 VA expenditures in West Virginia totaled more than $2.6 Billion

Compensation and Pension: $898,874,000
Construction Projects at VA facilities: $20,313,000
Education and Vocational Rehabilitation: $38,426,000
General Operating Expenses: $641,067,000
Insurance and Indemnities: $7,094,000
Medical Care: $1,000,646,000

Community Support Programs

Gold Star Family Registry

The National Gold Star Family Registry provides a searchable database of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Guardsmen killed while in the service of our country since the beginning of WWII.

Gold Star Mothers

Gold Star Mothers is an organization of mothers who have lost a son or daughter in the service of our country.

West Virginia Gold Star Mothers

West Virginia Gold Star Mothers is an affiliate of the American Gold Star Mothers. The WV Gold Star Mothers are active in Veteran advocacy throughout the state.

Honor Flight Network

Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization whose mission is to transport America's veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the memorials that were built in their honor. This trip is 100% free to veterans.

The Mission Continues

The Mission Continues empowers veterans adjusting to life at home to find new missions. They redeploy veterans so that their shared legacy will be one of action and service. The Mission Continues has helped thousands of post-9/11 veterans transition successfully by focusing their talents and energy on tackling challenges here at home.

Project Healing Waters

Project Healing Waters is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and disabled veterans through fly fishing and associated activities including education and outings

Helping Heroes

Helping Heroes, located Wheeling, provides veterans with emergency shelter, intensive case management, rental and utility assistance, help securing permanent housing and more.

Veterans History Project

The Veterans History Project of the American Folklife Center collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.

Veterans Upward Bound Program

Veterans Upward Bound is a free educational program for military Veterans. It is a U.S. Department of Education TRIO program, and it is funded by a competitive grant. Participants in VUB receive preparation for success at colleges and universities, technical and trade schools, and other post-high school training institutions.

WVABLE

West Virginia Achieving a Better Life Experience is an investment account designed to give people with special needs more independence and financial security. Balances and distributions do not affect federal needs-based financial aid. Earnings on savings are tax-free when used to pay for qualified expenses.

Operation Jackson County Veterans

Operation Jackson County Veterans’ mission is to support, encourage and honor Veterans in Jackson County, WV.

National Archives

The National Archives Veterans’ Service Records section has a variety of resources for research, including requesting discharge paperwork, service records and requesting replacements for lost medals and awards.

Veterans ID Card

The Veterans Identification Card (VIC) provides a convenient and secure method of providing proof of military service.

It is available for all veterans with an honorable or general (under honorable conditions) who do not have an identification card issued by the Department of Defense or the Veterans Health Administration.

Those veterans who have a DoD retired identification card or a VA Health identification card should continue to use those cards to prove veteran status.

For more information and to learn how to apply, click here.

West Virginia Voter Resources

Click here for voter registration information.

Click here for more information on the West Virginia Secretary of State's website.