CVLC News

The week after September 11, 2001, Thomas Hammons signed up to join the Army at 22 years old. He immediately stood out as an outstanding soldier. He was praised in every performance review from 2002 through 2004, earning multiple medals. He moved up in the ranks and became a Pathfinder—specialists who navigate through foreign terrain… Continue Reading Veteran Victories: Thomas Hammons, Army Veteran

At CVLC, we are fortunate enough to have the honor of working with truly inspiring veteran clients. While we fight to open doors to healthcare, income, and housing for our clients, we also strive to give our veterans a space to tell their stories. Before Army veteran S.A. came to CVLC, she was nearly homeless… Continue Reading Veteran Victories: “CVLC has given me a sense of independence and promise”

  With dozens of calls from veterans every week, CVLC alone cannot meet the growing demand for legal advocacy services. But together with a strong community of pro bono volunteers, veterans can trust that their legal needs will be met by knowledgeable advocates in the field. Finn Dixon & Herling’s pro bono attorneys recently submitted… Continue Reading Finn Dixon & Herling takes on new VA benefit cases

Today, along with several veteran advocate organizations in the State, CVLC signed a letter urging Governor Ned Lamont to safely reduce the population of Connecticut’s prisons. On April 1st, five prisoners in the Willard-Cybulski Correctional Institution tested positive for COVID-19. This outbreak in Connecticut’s only prison with a Veterans’ Services Unit necessitates a rapid response… Continue Reading CVLC signs letter to safeguard public health by protecting incarcerated veterans from exposure

Today, our Executive Director, Liam Brennan discusses the importance of keeping people housed in order to keep them healthy. As we all commit to flattening the curve by staying home, the reality of one’s social determinants of health dictate how sufficiently they can practice these vital public health precautions.    Homeless individuals have double vulnerability… Continue Reading To Keep People Healthy, Keep Them Housed: Social Determinants of Health and COVID-19

As funding dries up, a flood of legal needs is beginning to build, and it will soon spill over into Connecticut courts. By Liam Brennan, CVLC Executive Director As COVID-19 patients begin to fill the beds of hospitals, Connecticut’s courts—like most professions in the state—have gone silent. But a legal storm is brewing in the… Continue Reading A Gathering Storm Threatens the Future of Legal Aid

Too many servicewomen and men who protect our country return to civilian life only to find they lack protection—or even access to basic care—for their service injuries. An alarming number of veterans struggle with PTSD, addiction, depression, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other invisible wounds. More than 272,000 post‐9/11 veterans have received less than honorable… Continue Reading American Bar Endowment (ABE) grant will help expand Veteran Law training materials nationally 

CVLC proudly nominated Attorney Mark Healey for The Honorable Anthony V. DeMayo Pro Bono Award for his outstanding commitment to serving CT veterans. When clients are at risk for homelessness, keeping them housed is often key to keeping them in recovery. To keep clients housed, we often need compassionate and zealous attorneys to represent them… Continue Reading CVLC Pro Bono Attorney wins The Honorable Anthony V. DeMayo Pro Bono Award

Senate leaders take action in response to the recent report published by the Legal Services Center (LSC) at Harvard University. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined by Senators Jon Tester (D-MT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Kamala Harris (D-CA) sent a letter to Department of Veterans’ Affair (VA) Secretary Robert… Continue Reading Senate demands that the VA allow veterans with bad paper to apply for healthcare

CVLC participated in a national report with our partners at the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School (LSC). One of our veteran clients is featured in a national report about the Veterans Administration’s (VA) improper denying access to veterans. The VA employs VA’s complex, and often arbitrary, line-drawing between veterans eligible for the VA,… Continue Reading Newly-Obtained Data: Veterans Administration Turning Away Veterans Who Should Receive Benefits