New Location, Technology, Allows Niagara County to Better Meet Needs of Veterans
Earlier this year, the Niagara County Veterans Service Agency relocated to new office space in the Niagara County Courthouse in Lockport. Now, with more welcoming space and some significant improvements in technology, the VSA is better equipped than ever before to helps veterans with any issues they may have, according to Niagara County Clerk Joseph A. Jastrzemski.
Jastrzemski recently welcomed Senator Ortt and Adam Howard, President & CEO of the Veterans One-stop Center of WNY to view the new VSA office.
“We have created a first-class operation to help our veterans with anything they need including filing important paperwork, fighting for benefits, securing medical appointments, finding counseling and so on,” said Jastrzemski. “Providing services to our veteran community is really a team effort, done with the support and partnership of Senator Rob Ortt and the Veterans One-stop Center of WNY.”
Jastrzemski said Veteran’s One-Stop was hugely helpful with providing some key components of the new office, including smart TVs that allows veterans and their veterans service officer to jointly view the same screen when visiting the government website for filing claims, thereby ensuring accuracy of all information.
“One mistake can delay a claim for months,” said David Wohleben, a veterans service officer. “Our improved technology is helping us catch and eliminate any errors before documents are submitted.”
Senator Ortt, a veteran himself who has provided $185,000 in Joseph Dwyer grant money annually to the VSA to contract for counseling services for veterans, was impressed with entire atmosphere of the new VSA offices.
“Niagara County has done an incredible job in creating a professional environment where our veterans will feel welcome, appreciated and confident in getting the services they need and deserve,” said Ortt. “Accessing government services or programs can sometimes be a challenging or confusing process, but the employees at the Niagara County Veterans’ Service Agency have made it their mission to make this process as easy and efficient as possible, and I thank them for their efforts.”
Adam Howard, President & CEO of the Veterans One-stop Center of WNY added, “I am tremendously impressed with this new setup and how it will positively impact service to our veterans. I’m proud the Veterans One-stop Center was able to provide support to help make it happen.”
(Picture 1: County Clerk Jastrzemski, far left, shows one of the rooms where veterans services officers and their clients can work together to file claims. Picture 2: From L to R: Adam Howard, President & CEO of the Veterans One-stop Center of WNY, Senator Rob Ortt, County Clerk Joseph Jastrzemski and David Wohleben, veterans service officer.)
