Veterans' family support services, including counseling and financial assistance, have become even more important in recent years. These services are critical for the well-being of veterans and their families, who often face a unique set of challenges as a result of the veteran's service¹.

One of the most significant challenges facing veterans and their families is the psychological toll of deployment. Many veterans struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and other mental health issues as a result of their experiences in combat. These conditions can take a toll on veterans' relationships and family dynamics, making counseling and therapy essential for their recovery².

Another challenge that veterans and their families face is financial instability³. The transition from military to civilian life can be difficult for veterans, especially for those who have difficulty finding employment or are dealing with injuries that make it hard to work. Financial assistance programs can help veterans and their families to make ends meet and ensure that they have a stable home and can access the services they need⁴.

In addition, many veterans and their families face challenges related to housing. For example, veterans experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless, need support services to help them find stable and affordable housing⁵.

However, despite the need for these services, funding for veterans' family support services has been historically inadequate⁶. Many veterans and their families are unable to access the services they need due to a lack of funding, leaving them without the support they need to heal and rebuild their lives⁷.

Help us call on the Department of Veterans Affairs and the VA to increase funding for family support services, including counseling and financial assistance.

More on this issue:

1. Brent Weber, 1011 NOW (13 January 2023), "Navigating Veterans Affairs, access to its services."
2. PTSD: National Center for PTSD, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (11 January 2023), "How Deployment Stress Affects Families."
3. David Frank, AARP (6 February 2019), "Financial Concerns Especially Stressful for Military Families."
4. Rich Morin, Pew Research Center (8 December 2011), "The Difficult Transition from Military to Civilian Life."
5. Bendix Anderson, Multifamily Executive, Zonda Media (2023), "U.S. Veterans Face Housing Difficulties on Top of Other Challenges."
6. Lawrence J. Korb, Kaveh Toofan, The Center for American Progress (17 May 2021), "The Challenges Facing the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2021."
7. Ronald D. Hester, International Journal of Mental Health Systems (18 August 2017), "Lack of access to mental health services contributing to the high suicide rates among veterans."