Veterans

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

The Veterans Administration is a federal government agency authorized to guarantee loans made to eligible veterans under certain conditions. To obtain more information, you can contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The VA guarantee allows qualified veterans to buy a house costing up to $203,000 with no down payment. Moreover, the qualification guidelines for VA loans are more flexible than those for either the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or conventional loans.

If you are a qualified veteran, this can be an attractive mortgage program. To determine whether you are eligible, check with your nearest VA regional office.

Vet Center in Fort Myers:
Ft. Myers Vet Center Outstation Lee County Veterans Service Office 2072 Victoria Ave
Ft. Myers, FL 33901
Phone: (239)-938-1100
Fax: (239)-938-1101

Sarasota Vet Center:
4801 Swift Rd. Suite A
Sarasota, FL 34231
Phone: (941)-927-8285
Fax: (941)-927-8307

Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Services Available
Readjustment Counseling to include individual counseling, group counseling, marital and family counseling, Agent Orange information and medical referrals, assistance in applying for VA benefits, employment counseling and guidance, alcohol/drug assessments, information and referral to community resources, sex trauma counseling and referral services, bereavement counseling and community education.

St. Petersburg Regional Office

9500 Bay Pines Boulevard
St. Petersburg, FL 33708
http://www.vba.va.gov/ro/south/spete/

ailing Address:
P.O. Box 1437St. Petersburg , FL 33731
Phone: 1-800-827-1000

The St. Petersburg Regional Office is collocated with the VA Healthcare System and the VA Cemetery at Bay Pines. The St. Petersburg Regional Office is responsible for delivering non-medical VA benefits and services to 1.8 million veterans and their families. This is accomplished through the administration of comprehensive and diverse benefit programs established by Congress, and our goal is to deliver these benefits and services in a timely, accurate, and compassionate manner. Examples of the benefits and services administered by the VA Regional Office are as follows:

  • Disability Compensation, Including Death Compensation Benefits to Eligible Survivors
  • Disability and Death Pensions for Veterans and Their Dependents
  • Veterans' and Dependents' Education and Training
  • Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance
  • Guaranty and Indemnity Home Loans
  • Special Benefits for the Disabled
  • Outreach
  • Certain Burial Benefits

Naples VA Primary Care Clinic
2685 Horseshoe Drive - Suite 101
Naples, FL 34101
Phone: 239-659-9188
Fax: 239-659-0526

Parent Facility:  Bay Pines VAHCS
               Phone:  (727) 398-6661 or (888) 820-0230

Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Services Available:
Health Promotion
Disease Prevention
Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Medical Conditions
Referral to Specialty Care
EKG Service is available on-site
Phlebotomy Service is available on-site
Registration and Enrollment 
To register or enroll for healthcare in person, you may do so at Ft. Myers OPC. If you wish to register by mail, you may contact Ft. Myers OPC or any Community Based Outpatient Clinic to receive a registration packet in the mail.

Visit the VA website for more locations in Florida

VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AT THE REGIONAL OFFICE  
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS - Phone (727) 319-7408
LeRoy Collins, Executive Director
Vacant, Director of Veterans Benefits and Assistance

AMVETS - Phone (727) 319-7492
Carl Davis, National Service Officer

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS - Phone (727) 319-7444
Andy Marshall, Supervisor

MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART - Phone (727) 319-7488
Pierce Kilgo, National Service Officer

PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA - Phone (727)319-7470
Anthony "Dwayne" Stanifer, National Field Director
Richard Baker, National Service Officer

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS - Phone (727) 319-7483
Ken Thie, National Service Officer

AMERICAN EX-POW - Phone (727) 319-5914
Doris Jenks, National Service Officer
Rose Mary Meredith, National Service Officer

Note: The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs represents many service organizations (please see their website at www.floridavets.org for a complete listing). A sample of the service organizations represented is:

  • American Legion
  • Blinded Veterans of America
  • Jewish War Veterans
  • Military Order of the Purple Heart
  • Polish Legion of American Veterans, USA
  • Reserve Officers Association
  • United Spanish War Veterans
  • USA Jewish War Veterans
  • Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.