Santa Cruz County: Veteran Network is the one-stop website for information on ALL Veteran benefits in Santa Cruz County... and beyond. Providing comprehensive resources to veterans and their families. Also check out the Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building Services.

NATION’S FINEST –SANTA CRUZ At Nation’s Finest, our mission is to support America’s military veterans and their families with a comprehensive approach to housing, health, and employment that helps them achieve self-sufficiency and reach their full potential. We also provide case management, behavioral health services, referral services, and more.

Santa Cruz Vet Center at 41st Avenue - We offer confidential help for Veterans, service members, and their families at no cost in a non-medical setting. Our services include counseling for needs such as depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the psychological effects of military sexual trauma (MST). We can also connect you with more support in VA and your community.

Vets4Vets - A Santa Cruz nonprofit that is made up of veterans and friends creating community and assisting our brothers and sisters in need.

NAMI Santa Cruz County offers education, support, and advocacy to those affected by mental illness. We offer support groups, classes, and trainings to those living with mental illness, their loved ones, providers, and law enforcement. We also advocate for higher quality treatment, increased research, and accessible community resources for all.

Military and Veterans | Congressman Jimmy Panetta- In 2007, Congressman Panetta volunteered for active duty and was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He worked with Special Forces units and as a result of his meritorious service in a combat zone, Congressman Panetta was awarded the Bronze Star. Upon returning home, he served as a board member of the Veterans Transition Center where he focused on ending veterans’ homelessness and improving resources for his fellow veterans and their families. He was also instrumental in the opening of Monterey County’s first Veterans Treatment Court to ensure veterans receive the proper representation in our legal system. Moreover, he worked with local leaders and veterans to establish the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery on the former Fort Ord. He was a Monterey County Veteran of the Year in 2015. As our local congressman representative he provides services to our veterans. For more information concerning work and views related to Veterans issues, please contact Panetta’s office.