Halifax County Veterans Services Office moves to new location, some veterans not happy

This month, Halifax County moved its veterans services office to a new location and some veterans aren't happy about it.

The new office is located in the Halifax Social Services Building, up a flight of stairs. This is a problem for some veterans who are disabled and cannot use the stairs.

Jimmy Baugham is the Halifax Chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) commander. The group is made up of former soldiers who are fighting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and physical disabilities. Many of them depend on the local VA office for help.

"The old office was perfect, nothing wrong, it wasn't new, it wasn't worn down, it's nice," Baugham said.

The Halifax County Veterans Services Office was previously located in a ground-floor building that was easily accessible to veterans with disabilities. However, on July 1, the office moved up a flight of stairs to the Halifax Social Services Building.

"The building is nice, it's nice inside, but the problem is getting in and out of the building," Baugham said.

Those who can't take the stairs must use an 80-foot ramp to access the building.

Baugham is concerned that the new office could keep veterans from accessing their benefits, as multiple veterans in his group are wheelchair-bound and not strong enough to get up the ramp on their own.

"I'm asking if they'll move us back to the simple old place that we had that was easier to get in and out of," Baugham said.

Baugham is not alone in his concerns about the new location. Lois Harvin-Ravin, President of the NC Association of County of Veteran Service Officers, says that these types of moves are happening across the state, where Veterans Services Offices are being placed within the space of DSS offices.

"It is not a good fit for veterans with the challenges that they deal with," Harvin-Ravin said. "A noise-free environment is much more conducive to them seeking services if it is easily accessible."

She says most veterans that seek service from veteran services have some physical disability.

"In addition to the accessibility issues, veterans also face the challenge of navigating an environment with excessive noise," said Harvin-Ravin. "The noise from children playing, crying, or being fussy can unknowingly trigger mental health challenges for veterans with PTSD or other mental health conditions."

Halifax County Manager Dia Denton says that the move was made to create a one-stop shop for veterans' services. She also says that the ramp to the new office is fully ADA-compliant.

However, Baugham says he still believes the new location is unsafe for veterans with disabilities.

Denton's decision not to move the VA office back to the old location has Baugham and others frustrated many.

"I still think that it's unsafe for veterans with disabilities to go in and out of that building," Baugham said.