The New England Center for Homeless Veterans (NECHV) extends a helping hand to any homeless veteran facing the challenges of addiction, trauma, severe and persistent mental illness, and unemployment; however, the veterans must be committed to sobriety, nonviolence and working for personal change. The organization is located in Boston, and though most clients are from the Boston area, the NECHV has aided veterans from all 50 states.

Homeless veterans seeking help should go to 17 Court Street, any time of the day or night, and request assistance. Veteran status will be verified through the discharge form (DD214). If the DD214 is not readily available, NECHV staff will make an emergency request from the Military Personnel Records Center in St. Louis for the appropriate information.

The center’s support services include a residential program, specialized counseling, housing programs, training opportunities, job placement and medical help. The residential program has three levels. The first is the “Cot Squad,” in which veterans receive intensive counseling to address and resolve immediate personal issues. Individuals are given thorough assessments and the determination is made about the need for more intensive medical care.

The second level is the “Transitional Housing Program” that offers more comfortable living environments. To qualify for this, veterans must be working or enrolled in a training or educational program. This level concentrates on financial management and the search for permanent housing; clients are prepared to transition to self-sufficiency. The third level is a move to the 59 single-occupancy permanent units in the John Joseph Moakley Veterans Quarters located at the center. Typically, the rooms are 98 percent occupied with veterans who have completed level two.

The center’s Veterans Training School offers life skills as well as pre-vocational and vocational courses. It also assists with résumés and provides career counseling, JumpStart workshops and a job posting board. More information about the NECHV, its efforts and the ways to assist with time, talent and treasure is available on the Web site.

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) offers a wealth of resources—some of which have been featured in this column before—for the military community and offers many programs for the public to support its freedom fighters. One of the classic ways the organization enables citizens to reach out to warfighters is through its gift cards and exchange catalog gift certificates. Anyone can purchase these items and send them to a specific military member or designate them for any service member, including injured warriors, for distribution by a service organization. AAFES is offering free shipping on the cards as well to avoid extra costs.

Anyone also can send Gifts from the Homefront certificates to military members—again to specific or “any” warfighters. These certificates are available in some lower and different amounts than the other gift certificates and cards, and they do involve a shipping fee. Gift cards and both types of certificates are redeemable at any AAFES as well as Navy and Marine Corps exchanges. The Gifts from the Homefront also are valid at the Coast Guard Exchange, and the catalog gift certificates can be redeemed for merchandise from the exchange catalog. All forms of cards and certificates can be purchased and sent through the AAFES Web site, via links on the home page.

For folks more interested in helping service members reach out and touch their loved ones, AAFES offers phone cards that are operable from Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. People not authorized to shop at military exchanges can view a comparison chart of how much each call costs per minute based on minutes purchased and can buy cards online; authorized exchange shoppers can purchase the cards through the online store.

AAFES does its own part to help the troops beyond asking the public to donate. The Web site includes a PCS Headquarters where military members and their families can find various resources on moving to a new assignment. The site includes a Patriot Family Connection area, which features military-themed contests and activities. Coupons, disaster preparedness information, sweepstakes and other helpful, eclectic items also are posted.

Patriot Paws trains dogs to work with injured military members and other disabled persons to help restore physical and emotional freedoms. The organization provides high-quality service dogs for the minimum possible price to those who need them. Any physically disabled U.S. veteran or other American with mobile disabilities can apply for a Patriot Paws service dog by downloading the application form online or requesting one by mail. The necessary contact information is listed on the Web site. When an application is accepted, applicants are interviewed, and the organization makes every effort to find a compatible pet. Training the dogs takes 12 to 18 months and costs $20,000, so donations and volunteers are crucial to the program’s success. Anyone interested in donating funds can give through the site’s PayPal feature or can mail a check to the address listed online. Individuals who want to volunteer with the program can walk and bathe the dogs, run errands, help in the office, arrange fundraisers or round up donations. Foster families for the dogs also are needed. Other site features include donation news, frequently asked questions and an events page. Patriot Paws Service Dogs will raise funds with “Dogwalk in the Park” in Harry Myers Park, Rockwall, Texas, on November 8.

Military HOMEFRONT is the official U.S. Defense Department online resource for reliable quality-of-life information for the military community. The site has sections for troops and families, leadership and service providers so all aspects of military life are covered, from basic military needs to broader topics such as parenting and financial readiness. Troops can obtain information about various subjects, including permanent change of station moves as well as legislation and policies. The site also links to other organizations prevalent in the military community and explains special offers available to those who serve their country. An updated Survivor’s Guide to Benefits (PDF), current as of July 28, is available for families whose loved ones have made the ultimate sacrifice, and other casualty assistance resources are posted as well.

In addition to offering resources, the site includes news items relevant to the military that range from information about recently revised troop support Web pages to new benefits that are available. Site visitors can find even more assistance by using the “MySTATE” feature to explore offerings in their place of residence. Individuals can sign up to receive newsletters from Military HOMEFRONT to keep abreast of the latest news, and they can use the toolbox feature to personalize the site for their needs.

Creating Futures offers transitioning U.S. veterans as well as individuals with disabilities, at-risk youth and dislocated workers opportunities to build careers in the information technology field. Creating Futures works with employers to identify needs and then trains individuals to fill those capabilities gaps, placing candidates in long-term jobs. The education and training programs help students obtain the technical, business and communications skills employers want.

Run through the CompTIA Educational Foundation, the program offers several online courses: CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Server+ and CompTIA Security+. The training is provided at no cost to students. Candidates are screened and notified of their acceptance into the program via e-mail.

Individuals interested in the program can fill out the application online, and employers interested in interviewing Creating Futures students for job opportunities also can submit an online form. Completing the form does not commit a company to hire anyone but demonstrates an interest in interviewing candidates or potentially hiring Creating Futures students. Additional contact information is available on the Web site for interested organizations.

Also listed online is information about donating to the program. Creating Futures accepts financial and in-kind support such as monetary gifts, donation of classroom/training seating, contributions of training materials, receipt of on-the-job-training or internships, and consideration of candidates for employment within an organization. Interested parties can donate online or by phone, fax or mail. A list with explanations of alternate donation options, such as matching gift programs and planned giving, is posted as well.