At least 5 of the top 10 problems leading to homelessness are issues that cannot be resolved without legal help, according to a study from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Those issues that may lead to veteran homelessness include:
- Housing and landlord/tenant matters
- Upgrading military discharge
- Restoring a driver’s license
- Disability/pension benefits
Fortunately, there are several affordable avenues for veterans to secure legal help.
Work with a veterans benefits attorney with no little to no upfront costs
The Veterans Benefit Group of Goodman Allen Donnelly proudly offers legal representation to veterans on VA cases with no upfront legal fees. We do not charge veterans or their families any retainer fees or consultation fees in order to take on their case. In most cases at the VA, our attorneys agree to work on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if we win benefits for our client.
The benefit of this approach is that veterans and their families can retain an attorney who specializes in VA disability benefit claims to handle their case, and they don’t have to worry about paying upfront for our legal help.
Attend free legal clinics
The Veterans Benefit Group works with local nonprofits and universities to provide pro bono legal clinics to veterans and their families. These clinics give veterans the opportunity to meet one-on-one with an attorney specializing in veterans benefits. During these meetings, the veteran can ask questions about the process of filing a claim, the benefits available to them, and how to proceed with their claim (if they have filed one).
Find groups that offer free legal services
There are many groups that provide free legal services in other areas of the law. For example, attorneys at Goodman Allen Donnelly attorneys may provide pro bono representation on certain legal matters, such as uncontested divorces and social security claims.
Many states, including Virginia, have legal aid programs established to provide legal services to people who meet the income requirements. Legal aid can provide assistance with a variety of matters, such as bankruptcy, advanced medical directives, employment, child custody, divorce, foreclosures, evictions, and landlord tenant matters.
Many state bars have information on pro bono services available on their website. In states such as Virginia, the state bar has a webpage dedicated to resources available to veterans in the community. Often, the state bars provide links to organizations that provide assistance to veterans in a variety of legal matters. There are also many nonprofits that provide veterans with either legal or financial assistance.
Get a free case evaluation
While there are a variety of legal challenges veterans face, the good news is that there are resources available. If you are a veteran who has an issue on a claim with VA, or a question about what benefits may be available to you, we offer free veterans benefits case evaluations.
If you need help with a non-VA claim matter but aren’t sure where to turn, give us a call and we will do our best to point you in the right direction. Call toll free 877-838-1010 (877-vet-1010).
