A community where veterans can come together and receive the services they need in Lucas County sounded like a dream, but now it is becoming a reality.
The Lucas County Veterans Service Commission is moving from Monroe Street to a more centralized location where other services for veterans are available.
The move will begin Thursday, Feb. 5, with the new office, located on the second floor at 2595 Arlington Ave., open Monday, Feb. 9.
“Providing a centralized location is another step to offering holistic services to the veterans or northwest Ohio,” said Navy Reserve Lt. Haraz N. Ghanbari, UT military liaison. “I am thankful to those at the University and the county for working together to bring this move to fruition. Our partnership with the Lucas County Veterans Service Commission only continues to grow.”
“We wanted a strategic location where veterans could go and know they would be able to receive the services they need — medical, counseling, support groups or financial,” said Lee Armstrong, executive director of the Veterans Service Commission in Lucas County. “It was a perfect fit because of the location and because of the partnership we have with The University of Toledo and other key agencies.”
The Veterans Affairs Clinic, Commons at Garden Lake, a new 75 single-bedroom apartment complex for homeless veterans, which is set to open in the fall. Coupled with the Vet Center, Guard and Reserve Military Support Group, 1Vet Matters and the Veteran Affairs Homeless program is quickly growing as an area to help and support veterans, Armstrong said.
The commission soon will be located by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Toledo Community Based Outpatient Clinic on UT’s Health Science Campus. And the Commons at Garden Lake, a new 75 single-bedroom apartment complex for homeless veterans, is set to open in the fall. Coupled with the Vet Center, Guard and Reserve Military Support Group, 1Vet Matters and the Veteran Affairs Homeless Program, the area is quickly growing as a place to help and support veterans, Armstrong said.
The Veterans Service Commission provides support to veterans in Lucas County that includes emergency financial services, help with filing compensation and pension claims, and identification services to those who have been honorably discharged.
“The ultimate goal is to create a campus for veterans to come and have access to the services they need, and we could not be happier with the help we have received from our elected officials and The University of Toledo to make this move possible,” Armstrong said.
