Warrior Legal Services Organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit which exists to serve Veterans experiencing homelessness in Fayetteville, NC
How we serve
The problem:
Many Veterans who are experiencing homelessness have ‘bad paper’ discharges, meaning they are not eligible for many of the supportive services the VA has to assist with preventing homelessness such as housing and healthcare. In many cases, these discharge decisions were made over twenty years ago, so a Veteran might be continuing to pay for an infraction long after it occurred.
The solution:
Warrior Legal Services offers the following civil legal services to Veterans experiencing homelessness at no cost
-Military discharge upgrade application
-Discharge upgrade reconsideration and appeals
-VA Character of Discharge determinations
-VA Disability and Compensation rating awards and appeals
-Driving and criminal record expungement
-Estate planning: wills, powers of attorney, living will
Where we serve
Fayetteville, NC
Fayetteville is the largest city in Eastern North Carolina, is home to Fort Liberty (the largest US Military base in the world), and has the headquarters of the VA Coastal Region network of hospitals and clinics.
The last count of the homeless population in Fayetteville, NC showed there were at least 475 people experiencing homelessness in 2022, which was up 75% from the same count in 2020. Estimates vary, but it would be reasonable to state that as of August, 2023 there are at least 100 Veterans experiencing homelessness in Fayetteville- and likely all would benefit from free civil legal assistance.
Leadership
Director- Alex Rutgers
As an Army Veteran with three deployments as an Infantry and Intelligence Officer, Alex has always had a passion for service. Now as an attorney, he has helped Veterans experiencing homelessness for the past 6 years. He lives and works in Fayetteville.
Director@warriorlegalservices.org
