Veteran Services FAQ
Your Questions Answered
Below is a comprehensive hub designed to support you by providing a wide range of resources and information. Included are sections on emergency services, healthcare services, mental health support, business support, official legal services, and various other local veteran resources.
If you have any questions or need more information, please contact us!
If in an emergency, call 911
Veterans Crisis Line
Dial 988 / Press 1
+1 (800) 273-8255 / Press 1
VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat
Text: 838255
Suicide Prevention Lifeline
(800) 273-8255 or (800) 784-2433
24-Hour Pierce County Crisis Line
(800) 576-7764
Text “HEAL” to 741741
Pierce County Recovery Support Line
(877) 780-5222
talk to someone w/ experience who understands
Beacon Health ASO
(855) 228-6502
Administers Pierce County crisis services & other support services
NAMI Information Line
(800) 950-NAMI
The Information HelpLine is an information and referral service which can be reached by calling 1 (800) 950-NAMI (6264), Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.- 10 p.m., EST. Business callers, including those seeking particular NAMI staff members, should call 1 (703) 524-7600.
| Tacoma Vet Center 4916 Center Street, Suite E Tacoma, WA 98409 (253) 565-7038 Service Offerings | Tacoma Recovery Center & Cafe 1321 Martin Luther King Jr Way Tacoma, WA 98405 (253) 533-9361 Veteran Program |
| African American PTSD Association 9129 Veterans Drive SW Lakewood, WA 98498 (253) 589-0766 Services & Support | NAMI – Pierce County 3569 East Roosevelt Avenue Tacoma, WA 98404 (253) 677-6629 Mental Health Services |
| TACID (Tacoma Area Coalition for Individuals w/ Disabilities) 6315 S 19th St. Tacoma, WA 98466 (253) 565-9000 Programs & Services | Recovery Response Center 2150 Freeman Road E. Fife, WA 98424 (253) 942-5644 Short-term care facility, medically supervised EMS Guide |
2-1-1 Mental Health Resource Navigation
Dial 2-1-1 or (877) 211-9274
Call for help finding mental health services
Sexual Assault Center of Pierce County
101 East 26th St. Suite 200
Tacoma, WA 98421
Phone: (253) 597-6424
Hotline: (253) 474-7273
LGBTQ Trevor Project Support Center
+1 (866) 488-7386
| WA Department of Veteran Affairs 1102 Quince St. SE Olympia, WA 98504 DVA Programs | Pierce County Veterans Resource Center 3602 Pacific Ave. Suite 200 Tacoma, WA 98418 Resource Center |
| DAV Tacoma Chapter #1 1110 N Stevens St Tacoma, WA 98406 (253) 752-2970 VA Claim Support | DAV Seattle National Service Office 915 2nd Ave Rm 1040 Seattle, WA 98174 (206) 341-8267 |
| DAV at American Lake VA 9600 Veterans Drive, Bldg 16, Room 103 Tacoma, WA 98493 (253) 583-1303 | VETS Go Veteran & Military Transportation Services VA Shuttle |
National Veterans Legal Services Program
This application helps veterans, with or without the assistance of a veteran’s advocate, determine specific VA benefits to which they are likely entitled.
VA Benefit Identifier
Veteran HOPE
Protects military and veteran families from predatory fraud and discrimination in housing and courts.
(253) 499-5805
TacomaProBono Community Lawyers
621 Tacoma Ave S Ste 303, Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 572-5134
Provides free civil legal aid to low-income individuals with legal issues in Pierce County.
Northwest Justice Project
715 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 272-7879
Provides free legal assistance to address fundamental human needs such as housing, family safety, income security, health care, education, and more.
Congressional District Offices
A congressional district office is the local representation of your elected member of Congress, tasked with serving the needs of constituents within their district. They can help with a range of issues, including but not limited to constituent services, legislation, and advocacy.
For veterans, congressional district offices can be an invaluable resource. They can assist with navigating the complex VA system, accessing benefits, and resolving issues related to military service. Additionally, these offices can provide information about available resources and connect veterans with organizations that specialize in helping them.
Request Help with a Federal Agency
| District 1 Suzan DelBene 450 Central Way Suite 3100 Kirkland, WA 98033 Phone: (425) 485-0085 | District 2 Rick Larsen Wall Street Building 2930 Wetmore Avenue, Suite 9F Everett, WA 98201 Phone: (425) 252-3188 | District 3 Marie Gluesenkamp Perez 1053 Officers Row Vancouver, WA 98661 Phone: (360) 695-6292 |
| District 4 Dan Newhouse 402 E. Yakima Ave Suite #1000 Yakima, WA 98901 Phone: (509) 452-3243 | District 5 Cathy McMorris Rodgers 850 E Spokane Falls Blvd. Suite 270 Spokane, WA 99202 Phone: (509) 353-2374 | District 6 Derek Kilmer 950 Pacific Avenue Suite 1230 Tacoma, WA 98402 Phone: (253) 272-3515 |
| District 7 Pramila Jayapal 2033 6th Ave. Suite 1011 Seattle, WA 98121 Phone: 206-674-0040 | District 8 Kim Schrier 1445 NW Mall Street Suite 4 Issaquah, WA 98027 Phone: (425) 657-1001 | District 9 Adam Smith 101 Evergreen Building 15 S. Grady Way Renton, WA 98057 Phone: (425) 793-5180 |
| District 10 Marilyn Strickland Lacey City Hall – 3rd Floor 420 College St SE Suite 3000 Lacey, WA 98503 Phone: (360) 459-8514 |
Pierce County
Pierce County has partnered with the Washington Department of Veteran Affairs (WDVA) to provide Veteran Service Officers (VSO) to assist Pierce County veterans, surviving spouses and families with applying for VA benefits such as veterans disability compensation, veterans pension, burial benefits and surviving spouse benefits.
The PACT Act was recently signed to help veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. This law expands eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures, or of the Vietnam, Gulf War and post-9/11 eras.
If you’re a Veteran or survivor, you can file claims now to apply for PACT Act-related benefits online by clicking here.
If you need support, the Veterans Service Officers at our Veterans Resource Center can help you navigate VA health care and file a disability claim.
Our WDVA VSOs can be reached at:
Joe Jimenez, (253) 798-7847
Chal Queen, (253) 798-7856
Shelters & Homelessness Assistance
Call 211
If you are homeless, call 2-1-1 from any phone and ask them to enroll you in the Coordinated Entry System, so that your information can be shared with all the local housing programs for Veterans.
Open Monday-Friday, 9 AM – 4 PM
Pierce County Overnight Shelters
Only a few shelters accept walk-ins, and those often have a waitlist, so it is best to contact the shelter prior to arrival. Many shelters list open beds – if it is just a few beds, it is worth a phone call to ensure availability.
Beacon Center Young Adult Shelter & Drop-in Center
415 S 13th St., Tacoma WA 98402
(253) 327-1786
Shelter age 18-24; Drop-in age 12-24
Pierce County Homeless Services – Coordinated Entry
(253) 682-3401
Veterans Housing Options Group (VHOG)
Pierce County Human Services Soundview Building
3602 Pacific Ave. Suite 200, Tacoma
Weekly (on Wednesdays at 1pm) information sessions for Veterans experiencing homelessness to learn about resources, get referred to Coordinated Entry and other veteran housing programs available in Pierce County.
VA Community Housing and Outreach Services (CHOS)
The mission of CHOS is to prevent and end homelessness among Veterans.
(206) 764-5149 / Option 2
Housing Support
Veterans Transitional Housing Program
1141 Beach Drive East, Building 10, Port Orchard, WA 98366
Transitional housing facilities in Port Orchard and Orting help those in need with stable housing, vocational rehabilitation, and employment.
Contact Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
(360) 895-4382
Tacoma Rescue Mission
425 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma WA 98402
(253) 383-4493
Veteran Services
Catholic Community Services of Western Washington
5050 South Tacoma WA, Tacoma WA 98408
(253) 471-5340
SSVF Program
FOB Hope
12769 SE 174th St, Renton, WA 98058
Contact
Current Programs
| American Legion – American Lake VAMC Bldg 16A, Room 111 9600 Veterans Drive SW Tacoma, WA 98493 Service Division | Veterans of Foreign Wars Fife HQ 5213 Pacific Hwy E Fife, WA 98424 Service Offers | DAV Tacoma Chapter #1 1110 N Stevens St Tacoma, WA 98406 VA Claim Support |
| NABVETS Room 110 5515 Steilacoom Blvd SW Lakewood, WA 98499 WA Command Council | Cowlitz Indian Tribe 1000 Davis Place DuPont, WA 98327 (360) 946-2423 Veteran Programs | Puyallup Tribe 3009 E. Portland Avenue Tacoma, WA 98404 (253) 686-8484 Veteran Assistance |
| WA National Guard 10020 Bridgeport Way SW Lakewood, WA 98499 Family Programs | Nine9Line Suite 21 5013 Pacific Highway East Fife, WA 98424 Services & Upcoming Events | Safe Homes Intl. Community nonprofit Ladies Operation Moving Forward Military Wellness Initiative Network |
| Tacoma Platoon Veteran Volunteer Force Join Platoon | Hope for Heroes Horsemanship Center 14528 Avis Lane SE Yelm, WA 98597 Hope, Healing and Equine Therapy | AMVETS Washington 5717 S Tyler Street Tacoma, WA 98409 VA Services |
| A Hero’s Promise Community nonprofit (253) 888-0870 LDRS Training Upcoming Events | VFW Post #969 3510 McKinley Ave Tacoma, WA 98404 (253) 272-1405 Event Calendar | Combat Veterans Intl. – Chapter 5 VFW HALL 969 3510 McKinley Ave E Tacoma, WA 98404 More Info |
Employment Support
WorkSource Pierce
2121 S State St #300, Tacoma, WA 98405
(253) 905-1827
Working with veterans on one-on-one job coaching, custom job referrals, employment counseling and support services, and personal referrals to local training and resources.
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP)
General: +1 (800) 562-2308
Pierce, Thurston, Kitsap, Mason and Lewis Counties: (360) 725-2176
Provides services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force.
Veteran Readiness & Employment Program (VA Chapter 31)
The VA Veteran Readiness and Employment program, also known as VR&E or Chapter 31, offers personalized support for veterans to explore employment options and address education or training needs.
Business & Financial Assistance
Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
4001 South Pine Street #112243, Tacoma, WA 98411
(253) 442-6965
Financial assistance to young military families and transitioning veterans who are in financial crisis.
Support the Enlisted Project (STEP)
Pierce County Veteran Assistance Fund
3602 Pacific Ave. Suite 200, Tacoma, WA 98418
(253) 798-7449
Provides emergency relief to indigent veterans residing in Pierce County.
Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County
950 Pacific Ave. Suite 410, Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 383-4726
Programs for veteran businesses in Washington state and Tacoma-Pierce County resources for veteran small businesses.
Supporting Veteran Entrepreneurship
Enterprise for Equity
Supports veterans, spouses of veterans, and their children in building any kind of business, but in particular, we serve a number of veterans who are interested in farm- and food-related businesses.
(360) 704-3375
Veteran Program
General Educational Resources
Washington Career Bridge
Find the education and training you need to get the job you want.
GI Bill® Comparison Tool
Learn about and compare your GI Bill benefits at approved schools, employers, and VET TEC providers.
Educational & Career Counseling (VA Chapter 36)
Personalized Career Planning and Guidance (PCPG), or VA Chapter 36, offers free educational and career guidance, planning, and resources to Veterans and their dependents who are eligible for a VA education benefit.
Veteran Readiness & Employment Program (VA Chapter 31)
The VA Veteran Readiness and Employment program, also known as VR&E or Chapter 31, offers personalized support for veterans to explore employment options and address education or training needs.
Washington’s Community and Technical Colleges
Our colleges offer hundreds of degrees and certificates for today’s careers. Take your next step today!