Resources for veterans in New Orleans

If you’re in crisis, help is available right now

If you’re a veteran in crisis, or you’re worried about one, you can reach the Veterans Crisis Line any time: dial 988 then press 1, text 838255, or chat online. It’s free, confidential, and available 24/7, and you don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect.

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

• Dial 988 then press 1: talk with a caring, trained VA responder, 24/7
• Text 838255: confidential support by text
• Veterans Crisis Line chat: confidential online chat
• Veterans Crisis Line: more ways to get help for yourself or a veteran you care about

A local partner we support: VFW Post 8973

Aspire Community Care proudly supports Alfred E. Flynn Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8973 (VFW Post 8973), Uptown New Orleans’ VFW post.

VFW Post 8973 was founded by World War II and Korean War veterans from the Uptown and Irish Channel neighborhoods, and it is named after Alfred E. Flynn, a WWII soldier from the Irish Channel who was killed at the Battle of Luzon. A generation of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan revived the post, and it has become a place where veterans gather and rebuild the camaraderie they felt in uniform. The post has its own building at the corner of Lyons and Annunciation, renovated in 2016. Its mission is to foster camaraderie among veterans, to serve veterans, the military and the community, and to advocate on behalf of all veterans.

Visit: 531 Lyons St., New Orleans, LA 70115 (corner of Lyons and Annunciation). Email: commander@nolavfw.org. When: Open House every Thursday at 6 PM. Member meetings on the third Thursday of each month at 7 PM. Women Warriors, a gathering for women veterans, on the first Friday of each month at 6 PM.

What the post offers:

• Help navigating veteran resources and filing VA claims (commander@nolavfw.org)
• Questions and support from the post’s veteran service contact (vso@nolavfw.org)
• A Veteran’s Resource Guide covering health care, financial and housing help, employment, education, social opportunities and discounts for military families
• Weekly Thursday Open House for camaraderie and community
• Women Warriors: a monthly event for women veterans, open to all female vets regardless of membership
• Community events and service days, such as the Lyons Street Fest, the New Orleans Veterans Day Parade and veteran home clean-ups
• Memorial Brick Campaign honoring loved ones in the walkway outside the post
• Event hall rental for private events (events@nolavfw.org)

The post welcomes all veterans regardless of age, sex, religion, or sexual orientation. For information on becoming a member or transferring your membership, email qm@nolavfw.org.

VA health care in Southeast Louisiana

The Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System serves veterans in the New Orleans area, with its main medical center on Canal Street and clinics across the region. Services include primary care, mental health care, PTSD care, cardiology and much more.

If you’re not enrolled yet, VA can help you find out whether you qualify and walk you through applying.

• Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System: locations, services and contact information
• Health services in Southeast Louisiana: the full list of care offered locally
• VA health care eligibility: see whether you qualify
• How to apply for VA health care: apply online, by phone, by mail or in person
• VA health care: benefits, costs and managing your care

Local details: New Orleans VA Medical Center. Care outside the VA: VA Community Care Network.

Louisiana veterans benefits

The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs helps veterans and their families with state and federal benefits. Parish veterans representatives can help you file a claim or appeal a decision you disagree with.

• Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs: state benefits, programs and parish offices
• Louisiana veterans benefits: an overview of state benefits
• Louisiana veterans resources: a state resource guide

Men’s health for veterans

Health concerns like erection problems, low energy, high blood pressure or trouble sleeping are common, and they’re worth bringing up. If you’re enrolled in VA health care, your VA primary care team is a good place to start, and they can refer you to a specialist if needed.

Our plain-language guides explain common men’s health topics, and our Louisiana care guide lists low-cost places to get checked, with or without insurance. If you’d like help finding a next step, tell us what’s going on. What you share stays private.

• Men’s health guides: plain-language education on ED, heart health, low testosterone and more
• Low-cost men’s health care in Louisiana: community health centers, Medicaid and other options
• Contact Aspire Community Care: tell us what’s going on and we’ll help you find a next step

Get involved with VFW Post 8973

VFW Post 8973 welcomes all veterans and is a good place to find camaraderie, resources and a way to keep serving. Stop by a Thursday Open House, ask about membership, or support the post’s work for New Orleans veterans.

Neighbors and supporters can help too, through donations, a monthly gift or a memorial brick honoring someone you love.

• VFW Post 8973: 531 Lyons St., New Orleans, LA 70115
• Upcoming events: Open House, member meetings and Women Warriors
• Veteran’s Resource Guide: the post’s list of local and national resources
• Contact the post: claims help, volunteering, membership and rentals
• Support the post: donations, monthly gifts and the Memorial Brick Campaign

Sources

• VFW Post 8973
• Veterans Crisis Line
• Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System
• VA health care eligibility
• Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs