CONNECTICUT VETERANS LEGAL CENTER

Founded in 2009, the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center (CVLC) is the only organization in Connecticut that provides free legal services for low-income veterans receiving services from the Veterans Administration (VA) located in the state. CVLC is co-located at VA Errera Community Care Center in West Haven to provide services through three program areas: removing legal barriers to recovery, military records correction, and advocacy, education, and systems reform. Because of its success, CVLC has helped similar organizations in California, Florida, New Mexico, New York, and New Jersey form medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) with the VA, a model the VA now promotes nationally. Today, nearly 40 programs in the U.S. provide some type of legal assistance for veterans.

The mission of CVLC is to help veterans recovering from homelessness and mental illness overcome legal barriers to housing, healthcare, and income. Its vision is for all military veterans in Connecticut to live with adequate means, affordable healthcare, safe and secure housing, and peace of mind.

CVLC integrates legal services into the network of medical services provided at the VA and other agencies through the MLP. Staff members prioritize legal help for clients currently receiving housing, mental health, substance abuse, and employment assistance. By helping veterans who are already taking steps to help themselves, CVLC strategically deploys its resources to provide the one-service veterans desperately lack - help overcoming a legal barrier that may be the only obstacle standing between them and a new life.