Veterans’ Fight Continues at Home: Unmet Needs and Legal Barriers Post-Service
On Veterans Day, 17.9 million veterans are honored nationwide, including 1.5 million in Texas.
Picturesque, decorated veterans appear on parade floats, in morning shows, or giving commemorative speeches. However, this isn’t the reality for many who have served our country.
While it is a day of celebration meant to honor those who have served, the unseen battles many face upon returning home loom over them and their families.
Thera McAvoy, TRLA Veteran Advocacy Project (VAP) Staff Attorney, notes, “Sometimes society is a ruthless machine that's just tearing them [veterans] up, running them through it,” underscoring the challenging life some veterans face after coming home.
A few of the most critical challenges veterans continue to face are access to healthcare, stable and affordable housing, and unemployment. While many resources exist for veterans, such as HUD Vash assistance, disability benefits, SNAP, and many others, securing any benefits is often a long and tedious journey.
With the highest number of veteran and active military members in the country, Texas is facing our most significant increase in veteran homelessness since 2010. Last year alone, Texas’ unhoused veteran population grew by 19%, well over 27,377 veterans, disproportionately affecting Black, Latino, and disabled veterans.
This vulnerable population often returns to civilian life with limited support systems, little to no experience in the civilian workforce, physical and mental health disorders, and substance abuse.
The phrase “Thank you for your service” echoes across the nation, but is it merely an empty gesture that fails to honor the bravery and sacrifice it seeks to acknowledge?
Adam’s Story: The Harsh Realities of Veterans’ Access to Public Assistance
Over 3,000 veterans and their families have been represented by TRLA’s legal teams in various cases, including receiving VA backpay, securing housing vouchers, and receiving disability compensation. This is all in an effort to honor them, keep them housed, and significantly improve their lives.
“The work we do untangles and smooths out the problems that lay before them [veterans], and we take the time to understand where they’ve come from and how we can meet veterans halfway,” adds Attorney McAvoy.
The untangling process is tedious and, in many instances, requires some form of legal intervention. It also requires a significant amount of work from the veteran, and there are no promises of a favorable conclusion.
For instance, Adam Johnson*, a 56-year-old U.S. Military veteran and single parent, was forced to resign from his civilian employment to take full-time care of his toddler daughter - causing them to become homeless. While Adam was able to secure HUD-VASH assistance, they faced limited financial resources, no access to reliable transportation, no daycare, no internet, and no cell service.
Since August 2023, Texas Health and Human Services (TxHHSC) has denied Adam’s application for SNAP and Children’s Medicaid more than four times. TxHHSC has claimed that they denied his applications because they needed additional documentation. He submitted these verification documents repeatedly through the state’s new online portal, but the documents continued getting “lost.”
Unfortunately, Adam’s case is not an outlier. Over 25 million people nationwide have been impacted by the end of the public health emergency Medicaid unwinding. *
Then, in September 2024, after almost a year of fighting the system and with his VAP advocate at his side, Adam finally received access to SNAP benefits.
But his journey is not over, and despite this tortuous timeline, Adam remains positive and hopeful for his future with his daughter. He has full custody and is the primary caregiver of his daughter, and yet, the state has continued to reject Adam's entitled benefits cases – stating they require more verification documentation. His VAP attorney continues to advocate for him in front of state and federal agencies and remains steadfast in their efforts.
In a recent conversation, Adam shared his frustration and hope for the future: “I look at my child, and I know I got to keep fighting.”
Increasing the visibility of veterans' diverse challenges and experiences upon returning home.
Raising awareness about the complex and varied challenges veterans face upon returning home is crucial. A Pew Research Center survey found that 44% of veterans who served after September 11, 2001, report that re-entering civilian life has been difficult. Through its Veterans Advocacy Project (VAP), TRLA sees firsthand the gap between veterans' actual needs and the support systems intended to help them. Many veterans find themselves struggling with homelessness, food insecurity, mental health issues, and legal battles, often with little support and forced into self-advocacy.
Attorney McAvoy observes that, because of this significant disconnect, TRLA often becomes a last-resort lifeline for veterans seeking assistance for themselves or their families.
“The veterans reaching out to us for help are often the ones deeply impacted by their military service,” shares Attorney McAvoy. “They’ve experienced severe challenges, from mental health crises to a painful transition back into civilian life.”
At a time when veterans are central to many national discussions, it’s essential to recognize and respect the diversity of their experiences. Each story is unique, and none should be reduced to a single narrative. The grim reality is that there are many more like Adam and his family whose basic needs are left unmet and neglected by the very system and country they’ve served.
If you’re a veteran, widow and/or spouse of a veteran, or dependent of a veteran seeking assistance with a legal issue, contact our Veterans Legal Aid hotlines (depending on your location) Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm CT.
For more information or to attend our free informational sessions (Ask-a-Lawyer or Veteran Legal Series), visit our website at https://www.trla.org/get-helpveterans or our community calendar.
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* Adam: a pseudonym
* Medicaid unwinding: The process of reviewing the eligibility of every person enrolled in Medicaid in the state to determine if they are still eligible.