Lisa Conway – FLORIDA TODAY

Q: Can you share some of the local resources for veterans?

A: Veterans, thank you for your service! With Patrick Space Force Base, Cape Canaveral and multiple defense industry contractors, Brevard County is home to some 66,000 veterans. Local resources and service providers abound for those who have worn our nation’s uniform.

Benefits & Claims Assistance

Brevard County Veterans Services Offices offer free, certified assistance filing federal and state claims—including disability, pension, education, survivors, home loans, VA healthcare enrollment and burial benefits. They’ll help veterans and eligible surviving family members gather documentation (e.g. DD‑214, medical evidence) and submit claims.

The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs (FDVA) offers statewide resources such as property tax exemptions, financial counseling programs, GI education approvals and more, through its Military & Veterans Assistance Program –free to Florida veterans and their families.

Healthcare & Mental Health Support

Brevard VA outpatient clinics include the Viera VA Clinic (primary care, labs, physical therapy, toxic exposure screening) and other community care options.

Melbourne Vet Center provides confidential, non‑medical counseling—individual, group, and family therapy—for PTSD, MST, depression, transition stress and grief. Services are available to veterans and family members, regardless of VA enrollment. Telehealth and phone counseling are available 24/7.

Housing & Homeless Prevention

National Veterans Homeless Support (NVHS) coordinates transitional housing, outreach, case management, and referrals under VA‑funded programs. NVHS also helps with rental move‑in support, utility assistance, and employment referrals.

Volunteers of America and Housing for Homeless Veterans offer transitional and emergency housing. Financial support for rent or utility costs can be secured through Community Action Team, Salvation Army, and Project: Vet Relief.

Food & Basic Needs

Local community organizations assisting veterans with food, clothing, and referrals include Daily Bread, South Brevard Sharing Center, North Brevard Sharing Center, House of Hope, United Way of Brevard and Salvation Army. Veterans can also access broader support through 211 Brevard (dial 2‑1‑1) or the Florida Veterans Support Line at 1‑844‑MyFLVet, which connects callers to local and state services.

Community & Peer Support

The Brevard Veterans Memorial Center (VMC) on Merritt Island hosts the local Disabled American Veterans Chapter 123, offers support groups, family counseling, benefit navigation and annual events and programs. The Center also serves as a venue for veteran‑led community outreach and education.

The VFW, American Legion, and Rolling Thunder FL Chapter 1 offer community engagement, advocacy, and more. The Military Officer’s Association of Cape Canaveral (MOAACC) boasts over 1,000 local members and provides scholarship opportunities for military families.

Starting August 6^th, veterans of all ages can join Liberty Company, a social club that meets monthly at One Senior Place in Viera. For more information on veteran resources, visit OneSeniorPlace.com.

Lisa Conway is a Registered Nurse, Certified Dementia Practitioner and Certified Care Manager for One Senior Place Care Management, Viera. Ms. Conway hosts a monthly seminar, ‘Senior Health Friday with Nurse Lisa.’ One Senior Place is a marketplace for resources and provider of information, advice, care and on-site services for seniors and their families. Submit your questions to AskOSP@OneSeniorPlace.com. For immediate help, call 321-751-6771 or visit One Senior Place, The Experts in Aging.