The mission of the Department of Veterans' Services (DVS) is to be the leading advocate for the more than half-million veterans of the Commonwealth and their families and survivors. DVS establishes policy, proposes legislation, ensures adequate funding for veterans programs is included in the Governor's budget, and represents the interests of veterans in matters coming before the General Court. In addition, DVS represents all state agencies and individual veterans before the federal Department of Veterans Affairs in securing federal compensation and other benefits that might be available. It also administers the needs-based benefits program (M.G.L. C. 115) through Veterans' Service Officers in each municipality of the Commonwealth, and also provides state funding to organizations offering homeless shelter, transitional housing, and
outreach services to veterans.
