VA recognizes that homeownership is about far more than buying a house – it is about stability, opportunity, and building a strong future. For generations, the VA Home Loan Program has helped Veterans and service members take that step by making homeownership more accessible and affordable. That’s why VA Deputy Secretary Paul R. Lawrence, Ph.D. recently met with Robert Broeksmit, President and CEO…
From the streets to a home of his own: One Veteran’s road to recovery
How VA programs helped a Louisiana Veteran reclaim his life and support recovery After completing the Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program, an initiative that helped him find discipline and regain his footing after struggling to stay on track in high school, Nathaniel Toups turned to his mother one day and mentioned that he was…
Upcoming VA Careers events you won’t want to miss
Thinking about a career with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)? There’s no better way to get your questions answered than a face-to-face conversation with a VA Careers recruiter—and luckily, we’ve got a full slate of upcoming events across the nation. Our recruiters will be eagerly waiting to chat with you about the rewards of…
A Veteran and VA social worker’s case for VA Health Chat
How one VA social worker introduces Veterans to digital healthcare For nearly 18 years, VA clinical social worker Erin Lovinus has helped Veterans navigate their healthcare. As an Army Veteran with 11 years of service, she understands healthcare experiences from the Veterans’ side as well. VA Health Chat allows Veterans to send secure, text-based messages…
Live Whole Health #331: Mindfulness for pain
Chronic pain can affect your mood, your daily life and how you feel overall. But there are many ways to feel better and recover. Paying close attention to your thoughts and how you move can change the way you experience your pain and your body. This can make a real difference in your life. Words…
From wild horse to Route 66: A sailor’s century-long journey
Morris Neighbors’ journey from Oklahoma to the Pacific and back Morris Neighbors was raised far from the ocean, in an Oklahoma community where oil derricks, farm chores, school, church and baseball shaped daily life. Wild Horse, Oklahoma, sat between Tulsa and Hominy along Highway 20. In the 1930s, it was an oil-field community with company…
More than a baby shower: VA event teaches parents life-saving skills
Preparing growing families for a stronger start At a recent Baby Safety Shower, expecting Veteran mothers and parents of newborns learned something even more valuable than diapers, car seats, pack-and-plays and other baby essentials: how to save their child’s life. The G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center hosted a Baby Safety Shower focused on life-saving…
Veterans stay connected to care following Mississippi tornadoes
Jackson VA employees deployed into storm-ravaged Lincoln County to help Veterans after tornadoes The roof was torn open. A tree had crashed through the home. Inside, a Marine Veteran and his wife sat in the dark—no power, no clear plan and little left untouched by the storm. That is what Dave Snider walked into, and…
Making strides in mental health care with the Million Veteran Program
VA has always been a leading force in the development of new care treatments, both physical and mental. These innovations are what led us to the development of the Million Veteran Program (MVP), and the amazing information stemming from that initiative is showing us all sorts of possibilities when it comes to how to provide better…
VA honors Native American Veterans and one of last Navajo Code Talkers
More than 81 years have passed since Feb. 23, 1945, when U.S. Marines raised the American flag atop Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima during World War II. As the battle for Iwo Jima continued, Navajo Code Talkers and other Native American service members played a critical role in helping U.S. forces secure the South Pacific island. Using a complex oral code based on the Navajo language, Code Talkers shared secret battlefield messages that the…
Six steps Veteran homeowners can take to avoid foreclosure on a VA Home Loan
Owning a home backed by the VA Home Loan Program is one of the most valuable benefits earned through military service. But when financial hardship hits—whether from job loss, medical challenges or other unexpected life events—keeping up with mortgage payments can become difficult. The good news: foreclosure is not inevitable. This final story in our National Financial Awareness series shares six steps Veterans can…
There’s a new weapon against epilepsy
How one Veteran underwent a groundbreaking procedure that could change everything For 28 years, Derrick Harpole has lived with uncontrolled epilepsy, suffering from debilitating seizures despite trying numerous medications. He has been robbed of his independence, his career and, in many ways, his sense of self. But one recent morning at the Michael E. DeBakey…