Veterans guide: Where Philly veterans can get help with benefits, clothing, housing, legal assistance, and more

Editor’s note: This guide was updated on Nov. 10, 2021.

While reporting on veterans in Kensington over the last few months, we found resources available to veterans across the city. From the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit entitlement assistance to city clothing drives to pro bono legal services for veterans, here is what we found. You can also learn how to start the referral process for some of these resources here.

If there are other resources or organizations that are helping veterans, please let us know via email, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. We’ll add them to our list and hopefully, we can help more veterans find the assistance they need.

Benefits

VA Medical Center

Located at 3900 Woodland Avenue in West Philadelphia, the VA Medical Center is one of the two locations you can go to begin the referral process and receive VA benefits.

(215) 823-5800

Veterans Multi-service Center

Located at 213-217 N. 4th Street, the VMC is a one-stop-shop for a wide range of services that can help veterans get connected to services.

(215) 923-2600

Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Clothing

Prevention Point

A place in Kensington for folks who are experiencing complications due to substance use, homelessness, or in need of basic medical assistance. The welcoming staff of Prevention Point will also be able to point in the direction of help if the services they provide don’t cover a certain issue.

2913-15 Kensington Ave
(215) 634-5272

Impact Services

A community multi-service center, Impact Services will have resources available for veterans looking for clothing.

1952 E Allegheny Ave
(215) 739-1600

St. Francis Inn

A sacred place for folks in Kensington to receive free meals, clothing, and organized prayer.

2441 Kensington Ave
(215) 423-5845

St. Marks Church

A sacred place for folks in Philadelphia to receive free meals, clothing, and organized prayer.

1625 Locust St
(215) 735-1416

Covenant House PA

A sheltering and service provider for Philadelphia’s citizens experiencing homelessness, hunger, and lack of healthcare. They specialize in helping youth and at-risk citizens.

31 E Armat St
(215) 951-5411

Community

The Kensington Storefront

An art space and community center, the Storefront serves as a place for community members to engage in art with other people. There, folks can take part in workshops for adults and youth to heal from trauma, learn about themselves, and explore their creative side.

Community Center at Visitation – 2646 Kensington Ave.

(215) 426-9422

The Last Stop

The meeting room and “recovery clubhouse” of Kensington, The Last Stop is home to caring folks who provide daily meals, a place of worship, and a kind community.

1810 E Somerset St.
(215) 634-3564

Rock Ministries

Whether one is looking for prayer, medical services, referrals to services, or boxing lessons, the Rock Ministries has it all. Created by Buddy Osborne, a famed Philly boxer, the ministry now acts as a beacon for those who need food, clothing, temporary shelter, and spiritual guidance.

2755 Kensington Ave.
(215) 739-3927

Education

Go to this site to apply for VA Education Benefits. For help filling out this application, ask the Education Call Center: 888-442-4551 (888-GI-BILL-1), open Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

VA Medical Center

Access veteran educational benefits through the VA Medical Center by visiting the 9th floor. There, case managers can refer veterans to the best resources possible.

3900 Woodland Ave., 9th Floor; Room A947

(215) 823-5800 Ext. 4305 or (215) 823-5800 Ext. 6762

Veterans Multi-service Center

A great way to get this process started is by visiting the VMC on 213-217 N 4th St. There, folks will be able to refer you to resources and organizations that can assist with educational benefits.

215-923-2600

Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Housing

Impact Services

The community organization provides transitional and permanent housing for veterans and has two housing facilities in Kensington.

1952 E Allegheny Ave.
(215) 739-1600

Open: Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

Veterans Multi-service Center

VMC’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families program provides veterans experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity with supportive services. The VMC has transitional and permanent supportive housing programs too. The Day Service Center, also known as “The Perimeter,” helps veterans with transportation, immediate needs, and stable housing.

213-217 N. 4th St.
(215) 923-2600

FreshStart

Merakey’s Fresh Start program provides a variety of housing services for veterans including emergency housing, transitional housing, and shared and individual permanent housing.

3023 Frankford Ave.
(215) 423-5609

VA Medical Center

The VA Medical Center doesn’t directly provide housing programs. But veterans can go there to start the referral process for housing.

3900 Woodland Ave.
(215) 823-5800

Jobs and Workforce Development

PACareerLink

The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) coordinates its workforce development programs through PACareerLink, a private entity that administers these programs throughout the state on behalf of the VA and the Department of Labor. Register on their website, in-person at a PACareerLink center, or call the center’s phone number (all listed below):

4261 N 5th St (North Philadelphia) – (215) 967-9711
1617 John F Kennedy Blvd #200 (Suburban Station) – (215) 557-2592
3901 Market St (West Philadelphia) – (215) 473-3630

Open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Impact Services

The community organization provides workforce development through employment services.

1952 E Allegheny Ave
(215) 739-1600

Open: Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

Legal Counseling

The Veteran’s Consortium: Pro Bono Program

For discharge status upgrades they can review veteran’s cases, and provide a free lawyer if veterans fall under the accepted criteria. For veterans who received a denial from the Board of Veterans Appeals, they provide an online application to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. The application also provides assistance through the appeals process.

Mailing Address: 2101 L Street NW, Suite 840 Washington, DC 20037
Phone: (888) 838-7727
Email: intake@vetsprobono.org or upgrades@vetsprobono.org for discharge status upgrades

Military Pro Bono Program

A program created by the American Bar Association, the Military Pro Bono program aims to help veterans going through civil legal cases and attempts to pair them with pro bono legal attorneys. NOTE: The Military Pro Bono Project will handle only cases referred from registered military legal assistance offices, and it does not provide any direct legal assistance or representation.

321 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 988-5728

Military Assistance Program

For veterans facing compensation, discharge, health care, or other issues, the Military Assistance Program through the Philadelphia Bar Association can help veterans who can not afford or partially afford their legal services, as well as, give assistance with service-related compensation, VA healthcare, and discharge upgrades.

Open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

(215) 238-6388