YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT ALONE.
Curated resources for veterans, military families, and spouses. Housing, healthcare, employment, education, and more — Chicago and Illinois focused.
Veterans Crisis Line: Call or text 988, Press 1 — Free. Confidential. 24/7.
49 resources found
CHICAGO & ILLINOIS
Cook County Veterans Assistance Commission
Financial assistance, claims support, and emergency aid for Cook County veterans and families.
Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA)
State-level benefits counseling, veteran homes, education grants, and service coordination across Illinois.
Illinois Warrior Assistance Program (IWAP)
Free behavioral health services for IL veterans, Guard/Reserve, and families — no VA enrollment required.
Illinois Veterans Grant (IVG)
Pays tuition and certain fees at all IL public colleges and universities for eligible veterans.
Illinois Veteran Homes
Long-term care facilities for veterans across Illinois including Anna, LaSalle, Manteno, and Quincy.
Illinois Veterans Housing & Mortgage Assistance
State programs for veteran homeownership and housing stability including the IHDA Brave program.
City of Chicago Veterans Affairs
Chicago municipal veteran services including benefits navigation, events, and local program referrals.
Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
Full-service VA medical center in Chicago serving Cook County veterans with primary care, mental health, and specialty services.
UIC Office of Veterans Affairs
Dedicated support for student veterans at UIC — GI Bill certification, academic advising, and campus community.
VA & FEDERAL BENEFITS
VA Benefits & Services
Central hub for all VA benefits including disability, pension, health care, education, and burial.
eBenefits
Online portal for veterans to manage disability claims, records, and benefit letters.
GI Bill Benefits
Education benefits including Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, and Veteran Readiness & Employment.
VA Home Loans
Zero down payment home loans, Native American direct loans, and adapted housing grants.
VA Caregiver Support
Comprehensive support for caregivers of veterans including stipends, training, and respite care.
National Resource Directory
Federal database of vetted resources for wounded warriors, veterans, service members, and families.
Transition Assistance Program (TAP)
Department of Defense program preparing transitioning service members for civilian life — career, benefits, finances.
MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS
Make the Connection
VA resource connecting veterans and their families to mental health information, local resources, and personal stories.
Home Base Program
No-cost clinical care for veterans and military families including PTSD, TBI, anxiety, depression, and adjustment.
PTSD Coach (VA App)
Free VA mobile app with tools for managing PTSD symptoms, self-assessment, and connecting to support.
VA Whole Health
VA program empowering veterans with self-care tools — mindfulness, nutrition, movement, and connection.
Veterans Yoga Project
Mindful resilience programming for veterans including free yoga, iRest meditation, and community classes.
Give an Hour
Network of volunteer mental health professionals providing free counseling to veterans and military families.
EDUCATION & CAREER
VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC)
VA counselors embedded at colleges and universities to support student veterans with benefits, career planning, and adjustment.
DOD SkillBridge Program
Allows active-duty service members to gain civilian work experience during their last 180 days of service.
Onward to Opportunity (O2O)
Free career training and certifications for transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses.
Hiring Our Heroes
U.S. Chamber of Commerce program connecting veterans and military spouses to careers through fellowships and hiring events.
LinkedIn Premium for Veterans
Free one-year LinkedIn Premium Career subscription for veterans and military spouses — job search, learning, and networking.
American Corporate Partners (ACP)
Free year-long mentoring program pairing veterans with corporate professionals for career guidance.
HOUSING & FINANCIAL
VA Home Loan Certificate of Eligibility
First step to using VA home loan benefits — verify eligibility and obtain your COE through VA.gov.
HUD-VASH Program
Housing vouchers combined with VA case management for homeless veterans — referral through local VA.
Operation Homefront
Financial assistance, transitional housing, and mortgage-free homes for military families in need.
PenFed Foundation
Financial assistance for veteran homeownership including down payment grants and financial education.
Veterans Inc.
Emergency financial assistance, housing programs, and career services for veterans experiencing hardship.
MILITARY FAMILIES & SPOUSES
Military OneSource
Free 24/7 support for service members and families — counseling, financial guidance, relocation help, and legal assistance.
MyCAA (Military Spouse Career Advancement)
Up to $4,000 in financial assistance for military spouses pursuing education, licenses, and certifications.
National Military Family Association
Advocacy and programs for military families including scholarships, camps, and spouse networking.
Blue Star Families
Programs connecting military families to their communities — career support, family programs, and research-driven advocacy.
TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors)
Grief support for families who have lost a military loved one — peer mentoring, camps, casework, and 24/7 helpline.
Our Military Kids
Grants for children of deployed Guard/Reserve and wounded warriors to participate in sports and activities.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE
Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid
Free legal services for Illinois veterans including family law, housing, benefits appeals, and discharge upgrades.
National Veterans Legal Services Program
Free legal representation for veterans on VA benefits claims, discharge upgrades, and military records corrections.
Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program
Free legal representation for veterans appealing VA benefit denials at the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
Swords to Plowshares Legal Services
Free legal aid for veterans including VA claims, discharge upgrades, and military sexual trauma cases.
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
Student Veterans of America
National network supporting student veterans at over 1,500 college campuses — chapters, advocacy, and career resources.
Travis Manion Foundation
Empowers veterans and families of the fallen to develop character through community leadership and service.
Team Rubicon
Mobilizes veterans to serve communities impacted by disasters — deploying veteran skills for humanitarian missions.
Team Red White & Blue
Connects veterans through physical and social activities — local chapters across the country.
Bunker Labs
Supports veteran entrepreneurs through mentorship, community, and online programming for launching businesses.
The Mission Continues
Empowers veterans to serve their communities through service platoons and fellowship programs.
NEED HELP? YOU'RE NOT ALONE.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, reach out. The Veterans Crisis Line is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
Dial 988, then press 1