def # 27 02/15/12
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION NOW AT SOUTHERN SERVICE CENTER
OCEAN COUNTY is now offering its veterans help from three different sources - the County, the State and the Federal
government - all under one roof at the Ocean County Southern Service Center in Manahawkin.
"The Board of Freeholders today formally authorized the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of
Veterans Affairs, VA Regional Office to provide services to veterans at the Ocean County Southern Service Center," said
Freeholder Director Gerry P. Little, who also serves as liaison to the Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau. "This completes
our efforts to bring together the services of the county, state and federal government to provide a comprehensive program
for our veterans.
"I am very pleased we were able to accomplish this," he said. "We have been working on this collaboration for some time now
and we believe it is the first of its kind anywhere having all these agencies under one roof providing services to our
veterans."
A representative of the New Jersey Department of Veterans and Military Affairs is at the Southern Service Center for two
days a week - Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau has a representative there on Fridays and
Mondays and the Veteran’s Administration, which started the week of Feb. 13, will be there Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.
to 3:30 p.m.
The Ocean County Southern Service Center is located at 179 South Main Street at Routes 9 and 72 in Stafford Township.
"The facility has been opened about a year and houses a number of county functions including the Surrogate’s Office, Ocean
County Clerk and some senior programs," Little said. "Adding the component for veterans will provide many benefits to the
more than 65,000 veterans that call Ocean County home."
Little said veterans can now access assistance with claims, benefits, programs like job training, vocational rehab and
employment opportunities at the Ocean County Southern Service Center.
"Last year, about 175 veterans from Ocean County were successfully placed in jobs with the help of these programs,"
Little said. "We know our veterans will need our help and we want to make sure we are there for them."
Little noted the programs for the veterans at the Southern Service Center have been put in place with no additional
cost to County taxpayers.
"Recognizing the great importance of our veterans, we are all working together in a partnership to help these men and women
that have made great sacrifice for our Country," Little said.
For information on veterans programs and services contact the Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau at 732-929-2096.
