Our Mission
We believe all who serve in the U.S. Military are veterans who deserve to be treated with dignity. The Veterans Inclusion Project works to eradicate the shaming honor/dishonor labels the Department of Veterans Affairs uses to exclude certain high-risk former service members from healthcare and benefits.
Who We Are
The Veterans Inclusion Project is made up of veterans, CVLC staff, pro bonos, and advocates, and anyone who believes that those who serve deserve to be treated with dignity rather than shame, and provided care, not judgment
- The mission of the Veterans Inclusion Project is to make veterans’ benefits accessible for all low-income veterans through a combination of national policy advocacy and capacity building for legal advocates.
- The vision of the Veterans Inclusion Project is that one day the United States Department of Veterans Affairs will honor all who served.
- The values of the Veterans Inclusion Project are inclusivity, respect and parity for mental illness, trauma, and other invisible wounds of war, a commitment to anti-racism and anti-discrimination advocacy, integrity, and compassion. We honor all who served and we know this country can do better.
Our Work
Creating Systemic Change
To combat the life-long negative impacts of less-than-honorable discharges, we seek out collaborative efforts to create systemic change through impact litigation, creating policy goals, and amplifying our community partners’ voices through collective action.
Empowering Veterans
Veterans deserve empowering information to self-advocate. The Veterans Portal contains self-help materials and online trainings for veterans.
Engaging Veteran Attorneys and Advocates
A centralized legal education and advocacy portal providing attorneys
and advocates with tools to upgrade unjust discharges and increase
access to critical VA healthcare.
Changing the Narrative
All veterans stories need to be heard. The Voices of Exclusion project,
gives veterans a space to share their stories.
Stay in Touch
Stay tuned! We will be launching more initiatives and content in the near future. Please subscribe for more information and updates about the Project. Thank you for your continued interest, support and care for our veterans.
Veterans Inclusion Project in the News
- CVLC and Swords to Plowshares File Amicus Brief in Lynch v. WilkieNovember 11, 2020 WASHINGTON D.C. – Connecticut Veterans Legal Center (CVLC) and Swords to Plowshares (Swords), with the pro bono […]
- A Continued Struggle for Equality: LGBTQ Service Members and VeteransLGBTQ service members and veterans face unique struggles due to the long history of anti-LGBTQ discriminatory policy within the Armed Forces dating […]
- Veteran Victories: Thomas Hammons, Army VeteranThe week after September 11, 2001, Thomas Hammons signed up to join the Army at 22 years old. He immediately […]