This week, the New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs presented the Fiscal Year 2027 budget before both the New Jersey Senate and Assembly Budget Committees. While DVA continues to evolve, our mission remains constant: delivering high-quality, accessible, and responsive services to those who have serve and the people who love them.

The proposed budget reflects targeted investments that strengthen that mission. The New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs is proud of the progress achieved at all three New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes. Each facility possesses a five out of five-star rating from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a testament to the dedication of frontline healthcare heroes. Continued funding ensures that we maintain and build upon that standard.

The statewide network of Veterans Service Offices remains a cornerstone of access. With a presence in all twenty-one counties, New Jersey’s accredited Veterans Service Officers have already conducted nearly 77,000 engagements this fiscal year, assisting with thousands of claims and securing over $99 million in initial federal benefits for veterans and their families.

The DVA is also continuing to invest in critical mental health and suicide prevention efforts. Through programs like Vet2Vet and our PTSD Counseling Program, DVA provides around-the-clock support and direct services to thousands of veterans. At the same time, leadership in the Governor’s Challenge continues to bring partners together to advance evidence-based strategies and strengthen community awareness.

This is also a pivotal year in the effort to end veteran homelessness. Through the Bringing Veterans Home initiative in partnership with the Department of Community Affairs, more than 2,600 veterans have been housed since January 2025, including over 2,100 placed into permanent housing. New Jersey is on track to achieve functional zero, ensuring that veteran homelessness in New Jersey is rare, brief, and non-recurring.

These investments, along with continued support for our veterans cemetery, memorials, and transitional housing programs, reflect a comprehensive approach to honoring service with action. To read Commissioner Vincent Solomeno’s testimony in full, please click here.