The board members of the Southfield Veterans' Commission can be reached at
(248) 796-4VET (4838) or in writing at
Southfield Veterans' Commission
City of Southfield
P.O. Box 2055
Southfield MI 48037-2055
southfieldvets@cityofsouthfield.com
Updated 6/9/09
"Veterans' Information Seminar" The Southfield Veterans'
Commission will be hosting another in a series of informational seminars on
Friday, June 26th, 1 to 4 PM, at the Southfield Library, 26300 Evergreen Rd, in
the main auditorium. Presenters will be there from numerous VA & Michigan
Veteran Departments. Contact us at our email address/phone number for a more
detailed listing of the agenda.
"Assistance for jobless Veterans"
Are you a veteran and need a job? The State of Michigan has a
veterans employment specialist located right here in Southfield at the John
Grace Center, 21030 Indian St. His primary function is to assist Southfield
veterans in finding a job. Contact Mr. Matt Hagaman at 248-796-4569 or email
him at hagamanm@michigan.gov.
"Free Veteran Legal Clinic" Are you having issues with the VA? Need
some legal help with all the VA paperwork? The University of Detroit-Mercy
offers free legal services for veterans. For more information contact U of D-M
at 313-596-9854 or email them at costelma@udmercy.edu. The free legal
clinic staffers will be attending the Veterans Seminar noted above.
"Veterans History Project" The Southfield Veterans' Commission is
currently working with the Library of Congress and the Southfield Public Library
gathering interviews for the American History Series. We are asking all
veterans to share their stories with everyone across the country. Currently
interviews are being done every Wednesday afternoon at the Southfield Library.
The veteran also receives a copy of the interview for their own family record on
DVD. You do not need to be a Southfield resident to participate in this
program. Veterans wishing to be interviewed need to contact us to schedule a date
and time at the above phone number or email address so that the necessary
paperwork can get started. You will need to sign a release form for the Library
of Congress, the Southfield Public Library, complete a bio form, etc. As of
June 2009 108 vets have been interviewed. More information on the Veterans
History Project can be found at http://www.loc.gov/vets
"Veterans Aid & Assistance Program"
Are you taking care of a veteran? Have a veteran in a nursing home?
Have the spouce of a veteran in a nursing home or taking care of at home? A
little known program of the VA might be able to help. VA Program S-38 might be
able to supply to you up to $20,000 a year toward the care of a veteran or
spouce, or widow of a veteran. Naturally there are qualifications to meet, more
then can be covered here. Details on this program and assistance on how to
apply can be found at http://www.veteranaid.org/apply.php.
"New GI Bill" The Veterans Education
Act of 2008 was passed last summer. This affects all veterans who have served
since 9/11/01 and goes into affect on August 1, 2009. The American Legion is
sponsoring a web site to provide information to current veterans on what this
new program will provide. To find out more about the New GI Bill go to http://www.mygibill.org.
"Veteran Housing Project" Are you a
disa bled or a low income veteran and having problems cutting the weeds in
your backyard, fixing a leaking sink, need a wheelchair ramp installed, etc.
The Oakland County chapter of the Rebuilding Together program may be able to
help. Their volunteers will come to your house, cut your weeds, fix that leak,
build you a wheelchair ramp. For more information goto http://www.rebuildingtogether.org/content/organization/detail/743/
or call Mr. Jerry McKay at 248-889-5450.
"Social Security Benifits for Wounded
Veterans" If you are a disabled veteran, and receiving benifts from the
VA, you may still be entitled to extra benifits from the Social Security
Administration. For more information check with the Social Security
Administration local office or goto: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors/
"Social Security Benifits for Vets prior to
1967" In many cases veterans that served prior to 1967 did not get full
credit for their service with the Social Security Administration. If you are
retiiring be sure to take a copy of your DD-214 to the SSA office. If you are
retired take a copy of your discharge papers to the SSA to get your earning
record corrected. This might mean more per month for you.
"Free Tuition for Returning Vets"
Western Michigan University's trustees have initiated a Returning Veterans
Tuition Assistance Program designed to help recently discharged veterans with the cost of college. The
program waives tuition for the first
semester on campus. The current cost for a semester of tuition for a typical full time student is $3,088.
Eligible veterans must begin school at Western Michigan University within six months of discharge from
active duty for purposes other than training. Contact Western Michigan
University for more information.
"Combat Veterans Program" The John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in
Detroit will soon start a program to aid combat veterans from WW II, Korea,
Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars. This support will include
assistance with readjustment to life after deployment, support groups,
assessment and treatment of PTSD, couple and family counseling, etc. If you feel
this program might be of benefit to you or a family member please call the
program coordinator Ms Kelly White at 313-576-1000, ext 63519, or program social
worker Ms Christina Hall at 313-576-1000, ext 64962.
