Veteran Service Organizations Need to be Accessible to ALL Veterans
For many Veterans, the struggle doesn't stop when they leave the battlefield – it continues here at home, where they have to fight for fair treatment from the very systems meant to support them. The promises made to Veterans when they return home are clear: they deserve respect, support, and the benefits they've earned through their service. Yet, for far too many Veterans, particularly in minority communities, these promises are not being fulfilled.
Veteran Service Organizations (VSO) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are meant to be lifelines for those who have served our country, providing essential resources, healthcare, and advocacy. But, despite their mission to serve all who've worn the uniform, systemic issues within VSOs and the VA persist, forcing minority Veterans to navigate a maze of barriers ranging from subtle bias to outright discrimination. Despite the urgent need for collaboration, major Veteran Service Organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and the American Legion have yet to attempt a partnership with us to address these disparities.
Black Americans have served in every major conflict in U.S. history, from the Revolutionary War to modern-day operations overseas. Still, their contributions are frequently unrecognized, causing Black Veterans to face obstacles that others simply don't encounter. As the Chairman of the Black Veteran Empowerment Council (BVEC), I regularly meet minority Veterans who struggle to see themselves as true Veterans because their contributions are so frequently overlooked by the public. Even within the Veteran community, we face exclusion and discrimination due to systemic barriers and social biases that directly contradict the core values of our military and democracy. These failures have far-reaching consequences.
When Black Veterans aren't properly served by the institutions meant to support them, it contributes to broader disparities in health, economic stability, and overall well-being. Many Veterans rely on the VA and VSOs for everything from healthcare and housing assistance to job training and mental health support. However, Black Veterans often face significant barriers to fully utilizing these benefits, limiting access to essential resources that could enhance their quality of life. When these services aren't accessible or effective for all Veterans, the impact ripples across entire communities.
A key factor in these systemic failures is the lack of authentic representation within the VA and many VSOs. Historically, these organizations were established by and for non-minority Veterans, and their leadership and membership still reflect this. As a result, the unique experiences and needs of Black Veterans are often misunderstood or simply not considered. While VSOs are vital in connecting Veterans to essential services, many Black Veterans report feeling unwelcome or unwanted within these groups. This perception can deter them from seeking the support they need.
The systemic inequity within VSOs contributes to a broader, more troubling issue regarding the disproportionate rates of homelessness among Black Veterans. Despite Black people comprising 12 percent of the Veteran population, they make up 31 percent of the homeless Veteran population. While the VA lays out promises to house homeless Veterans, it often takes a federal judge to force the agency to act. Whether it's lack of attention or capacity, the VA is failing in its mission to protect those who've served. We take victory laps when there is modest success in the homeless numbers, but we must remember that one homeless veteran is too many.
The Black Veterans Empowerment Council, in partnership with Veterans Guardian (based in North Carolina), recently held a disability claims assistance clinic in Shreveport, LA to help veterans navigate the complicated benefits process. Many who we assisted were either impoverished, disabled, or elderly, and they desperately needed our help. We were proud to partner with Veterans Guardian, which stepped up to help while others have failed. Black Veterans are statistically less likely to receive full benefits compared to their white counterparts, often due to discrepancies in discharge status or difficulties proving service-connected conditions. These problems stem from decades of discriminatory practices - including racial disparities in how military justice is administered, leading to unfair discharges in addition to inadequate transition assistance compared to their White counterparts.
The VA has recently acknowledged these gaps, showing a systemic process of denying Black Veterans at a higher rate than white Veterans every year, but progress in addressing them has been slow and inconsistent. For too many Black Veterans, the message remains clear: the system does not see them or prioritize their health. These problems will only be exacerbated if Congress attempts to reintroduce the GUARD Act of 2023 in the 119th Congress. This bill restricts veterans' freedom and choice to seek assistance with their disability benefits claims. Any member of Congress who endorses this legislation endorses a worsening of the status quo for Black Veterans who have been long mistreated and overlooked by a broken system.
It is not enough for VSOs and the VA to claim they serve all Veterans equally. Real change requires a deliberate effort to address the specific needs of minority Veterans, especially Black Veterans, who have been historically marginalized within and outside the military. No Veteran from any background should have to fight another battle once home to access the care and benefits they earned. They delivered on their commitment. It's time for the VA and VSOs to deliver on theirs.