Veterans groups push for stronger housing, mental‑health and transportation supports for New Jersey veterans

Trenton — Veterans advocates told the Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee that state and federal programs leave many veterans, and especially women veterans and those in South Jersey, without reliable housing, mental‑health care or transportation to VA appointments.

"We are brothers and sisters in arms and should stand together as one," said a longtime veterans advocate representing the Veterans of Foreign Wars during testimony that described systemic shortfalls for women veterans, including concealed sexual‑assault cases, poor outreach and limited shelter options for single women with children.

Brianna Felice, an Operation Enduring Freedom veteran and incoming VFW department commander if tradition holds, described returning from deployment as a single mother and the long-term harms she said veterans and their families face: "These are scars that veterans...have really deep inside of them that no therapy or medication or topical ointment can heal," she said, urging more accessible resources and a coordinated state approach.

The state commander for the Disabled American Veterans said transportation is a major daily problem for veterans trying to reach appointments. He said DAV chapters operate a small, volunteer fleet (six to eight vehicles total, regionally uneven), do not provide wheelchair‑accessible transport, and routinely receive last‑minute requests from veterans who otherwise cannot make appointments.

Ken Hageman, state commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in New Jersey, urged the Legislature to fund the new Department of Veterans Affairs (MOVA) and the ombudsman position, expand suicide‑prevention programs and make PTSD services and enrollment pathways more accessible. Hageman noted that some state mental‑health programs require application through state service officers, even though many accredited service officers work for nonprofits or counties and cannot directly enroll veterans.

Advocates also pointed to regional disparities: South Jersey lacks emergency veteran housing and off‑hours support; nonprofits and volunteers often fill gaps with hotel stays and ad‑hoc help, they said. Hageman and others urged clearer state accountability and funding to ensure coverage outside the state's population centers.

Why it matters: Testimony tied gaps in transportation, housing and program eligibility to worsened access to health care and benefits, with potential consequences for veteran well‑being and suicide prevention efforts.

What’s next: Committee members thanked witnesses, requested follow‑up materials and the chair said a women veterans–focused hearing would be scheduled soon. No formal committee actions were completed at this session.

Quotes in this article are drawn from witnesses' testimony before the Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.