Ramsey County: Veterans Service Officers
In the fight to end Veteran homelessness in Minnesota, MACV has several allies and partners willing to roll up their sleeves and do the hard work. Ramsey County Veterans Services is one of MACV’s many counterparts which serve local Veterans with dignity, respect, and consistency.
Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) advocate for Veterans and their benefits at the heart of their roles. Nearly every county in the United States has a County Veterans Services Officer. With more than 9 million Veterans served across America, VSOs are a critical pathway for Vets and their families as they seek to enroll in benefits from federal, state, and county governments.
When joining the service, the recruitment process is quite simple: visit a recruiter, fill out paperwork, take the aptitude test, get medically cleared, then wait for your date to ship off to basic training.
Receiving benefits and support after military service isn’t so simple, however. The process of enrolling in benefits as a Veteran, without the help of a VSO, is far from straightforward and can become fraught with questions and hold-ups. Military service takes many forms, and so do the injuries and care needs that follow those who serve.
Veterans as a group represent a unique type of case and need: Their previous employer often required its employees to perform dangerous or hazardous work in service to the nation. This work, and any injuries that accompany it, often manifest many years after Veterans have left uniformed service.
Ramsey County alone is home to more than 25,000 Veterans. Ramsey County Veterans Services take care of Veterans and their dependents with health care navigation, college enrollment, employment services, VA home loans, life insurance, and other social services.
Even with COVID-19 interrupting daily life, Ramsey County Veterans Services continues to work hard for those who served our country. Serving all – regardless of time served or discharge type – is what Ramsey County Veterans Services offers. Though they’re closed for walk-ins, their full-time staff remain engaged in email, phone calls, and teleconferences. Veterans in St. Paul and the surrounding area receive the attention and care they deserve.
Every Veteran should connect with their VSO. Each branch of the military provides strategic value in their own way, and VSOs are the experts who can help Veterans navigate benefits to support each person’s unique care. Veteran service organizations are also the most travelled gateway to connecting with MACV’s services.
MACV’s website offers contact information for VSOs in each county or Tribal community throughout Minnesota. You can find the right point of contact, and more, by visiting our resource directory page here, or the Minnesota Association CVSO finder tool here.