Franklin County adds Location to Serve Veterans, Active Duty Members

Last year, the Franklin County Veterans Service Commission (FCVSC) served over 24,000 local military veterans, active duty personnel and their families at four locations in Franklin County.

This week, FCVSC opened a new satellite location within the Franklin County Department of Job & Family Services’ (FCDJFS) Northland Opportunity Center, located at 1721 Northland Park Avenue.

“We’re glad to be able to extend our reach to serve our veterans, active duty members and their families better by adding another location at Northland,” said Commissioner John O’Grady, Board President. “It’s sensible to co-locate these services.”

FCVSC provides advice and assistance to veterans, active duty members of the Armed Forces of the United States, and their dependents in obtaining benefits and entitlements from federal, state, and local agencies; and provides immediate financial assistance when necessary and appropriate.

Annually, FCVSC provides more than 7,812 transports to assist Veterans with getting to medical appointments and in emergency situations, and serves over 300 clients with medical transportation needs in Franklin County.

FCVSC also provides meals to nearly 40 veterans monthly through their Meals-on-Wheels food delivery program.

This is the second instance of FCVSC co-locating services within an FCDJFS Opportunity Center. The East Opportunity Center began operating a Veterans Service Commission satellite office in 2001. FCVSC also offers services at the Columbus VA Ambulatory Care Center (420 N. James Rd.), at the Franklin County Government Center Downtown Complex (373 S. High St., on the 25th Floor) and at the Veterans Service Commission offices located on West Broad Street.

“We must do well by our veterans that have honorably served our country, the active duty members of the military currently serving, and their families,” said Commissioner Paula Brooks. “Making it easier for them to receive the assistance and benefits they have earned is good policy.”

“Co-locating services is both cost-effective for the taxpayers and convenient for our veterans, active duty members and their families,” said Commissioner Marilyn Brown. “Adding this new location is a win for everyone involved.”

“As a veteran myself, I am acutely aware of the number of residents that are seeking assistance at our centers who are also veterans,” said FCDJFS Director Anthony Trotman. “While we have always been able to refer people to different agencies, having them on-site takes our service to the next level.”

“We are happy to be able to better serve the community,” said FCVSC Director Doug Lay. “The new location in Northland makes sense because nearly 35-percent of our intake comes from zip codes served by the Northland JFS location. This new location provides veterans and military members and their families a more efficient and convenient way to apply for and access the important services available to them.”