City of Chicago Creates Veteran Affairs Office in Effort to Expand Services

CHICAGO (AP) (Feb. 27, 2016)— Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has set up a new Chicago Veteran Affairs Office to expand services for military veterans and their families.

Emanuel’s office announced Saturday that he has appointed Victor LaGroon to serve as director of the new department. LaGroon served with the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division and has advocated for veterans’ health needs for the past decade.

Emanuel’s office says it’s the first time the city will have a fulltime staffer specializing in veterans policy and programming.

A group of aldermen who are former service members have also formed a new veteran caucus in the City Council.

The city also announced Saturday that a website, cityofchicago.org/veterans to guide Chicago veterans to resources in areas including housing and jobs is up and running.

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For the Chicago Office of Veterans’ Affairs: 

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/fss/veterans/about-us.html