Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency

The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) is a state government agency that functions as the central coordinating point for Michigan veterans, connecting those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, and their families, to services and benefits throughout the state.

MVAA operates within the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and was created by Governor Rick Snyder under executive order on January 18, 2013. The agency was launched on March 20, 2013.

Michigan Veterans Resource Service Center
The Michigan Veteran Resource Service Center (MVRSC) was launched in September 2014. The service center is staffed with technicians available to assist veterans and their families.

In launching the service center MVAA formed a statewide partnership with Michigan 2-1-1, the first of its kind in the nation. This gives veterans and their families access to resources and support 24/7, connecting them with 2-1-1 operators if an MVAA technician is not available.

Michigan Veterans Trust Fund
The Michigan Veterans Trust Fund (MVTF) provides emergency grants to Michigan veterans and their families in times of short-term financial crisis. To be eligible for a grant, a veteran must be a resident of Michigan and have 180 days of honorable active duty, unless separated as a result of physical or mental disability.

Benefits counselors
Veteran Service Officers (VSO) assist veterans as they fill out required forms and submit benefits claims to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

MVAA employs six accredited VSOs and contracts with the Michigan Veterans Coalition to provide an additional 66 accredited service officers across the state. The Michigan Veterans Coalition comprises the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Marine Corps League, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Vietnam Veterans of America. There are also 124 accredited counselors employed by counties.

Homes for Veterans - Where Valor Lives
MVAA oversees two state veterans homes that provide long-term care for their more than 600 members.

The Grand Rapids Home for Veterans opened in 1885 as the Veterans Facility of Michigan to provide care for Civil War veterans. The facility includes nursing and domiciliary care, an Alzheimer’s unit, mental health services and specialty clinics. The Home has a woodshop, ceramics studio, library, horticulture program and a bowling alley. GRHV also hosts special events and trips out into the surrounding community.

The D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans provides medical care in a homelike environment in the city of Marquette. The Jacobetti Home also hosts activities including woodworking, painting, sewing, board game tournaments, special celebrations and many performances.

Veterans Community Action Team
As of July 2015, Veterans Community Action Teams (VCATs) are present in six of Michigan's ten prosperity regions. Each VCAT identifies gaps in service as well as overlapping resources and serves as a contact for veterans within the region to connect them with local service providers.

Regional Coordinator Program
Regional Coordinators work with county veteran service officers, non-profit agencies, veteran service organizations and state agencies to improve coordination between services. They ensure veterans and their families can more easily connect with service providers to improve access to care. There is one Regional Coordinator in each of the state’s ten economic prosperity regions.