Many veterans don't get the help they need. Austin is working to change that.
Some organizers might be satisfied with a monthly event that draws 200 to 400 people at a time, especially if that event is less than a year old.
But Jesus Simental knows the need is far greater than that.
As the veterans administrator for the city of Austin, he has seen the statistics. Among the thousands of Central Texans surveyed in the 2024 Needs Assessment of Texas Veterans, half said they didn't know which benefits they qualified for, and nearly 40% said they didn't know where to get help — distressing indicators that many who served our nation aren't receiving the vital support they deserve.
To help close that gap, Simental partnered with federal and state veterans agencies last April to launch a monthly veterans resource fair. On the second Wednesday of each month, up to 25 organizations set up tables at the Veterans Affairs clinic in Austin. A few hundred people attend. Experts give presentations on topics ranging from disability compensation to home loans to survivor's benefits.
The next one is on Feb. 12.
'I enjoy talking to veterans. I enjoy taking care of them, helping them with any issues they've got,' said Simental, who retired in 2012 as a field grade officer in the Air Force, where he served for 26 years. Ever since then, his work has been helping veterans — first, with the Texas Veterans Commission, now with the city of Austin.
The biggest obstacle to vets getting help 'is just not knowing, not getting the word,' he said.
For instance, Simental urges veterans and surviving spouses to see if they might be entitled to more assistance under the PACT Act, one of the largest health care and benefit expansions in VA history. The law, passed in 2022, expands benefits to service members exposed to toxic burn pits during their deployment.
Crucially, for Vietnam-era veterans, the PACT Act expands the definition of who was likely exposed to Agent Orange and deserving of additional benefits for themselves or a surviving spouse.
'I've filed many of these claims myself (on behalf of clients), and many spouses were denied for that very reason, but now they can go back and refile,' Simental told me. 'So getting the word out on that benefit is very beneficial to a lot of survivors.'
At the same time, veterans' needs extend in many directions. In the 2024 Needs Assessment, conducted for the Texas Veterans Commission, Central Texas vets most commonly cited the need for mental health counseling, integrative and alternative therapy, and support for entrepreneurs and job-seekers. Organizations serving Central Texas vets reported the greatest needs they saw were for emergency financial assistance, mental health counseling and employment services.
Even if someone has been told they don't qualify for something, it's worth asking again, Simental said. He has seen plenty of cases in which a veteran received bad advice or misunderstood the information.
'A lot of them, once they're told (something) wrong, they run with the wrong information, and they never seek assistance again,' he said.
So Simental keeps spreading the word about events and resources that can help. And the monthly veterans' benefits fairs at the VA clinic offer one more important perk.
'One of my VFWs brings out 170 burritos. That's probably a good reason to go out there. They're really good,' Simental said, chuckling. 'And I bring Round Rock Donuts, so you can't beat that.'
"Get to Know Your Veteran Benefits" events are held in Austin on the second Wednesday of every month. The next one is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Austin VA Clinic at 7901 Metropolis Drive, Room 1G-101. The event includes presentations by agencies offering information and services, so it's best to show up when the event starts at 10 a.m. No registration needed. For information, contact city Veterans Administrator Jesus Simental at jesus.simental@austintexas.gov or 512-974-7742.
The city of Austin has a detailed Veterans Resource Directory listing agencies that provide help on issues ranging from home repair to transportation to burial benefits. Visit austintexas.gov/page/veteran-resource-directory.
Grumet is the Statesman's Metro columnist. Her column contains her opinions. Share yours via email at bgrumet@statesman.com, or via X or Bluesky at @bgrumet. Find her previous work at statesman.com/opinion/columns.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin VA Clinic hosts events to help veterans get benefits | Opinion
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