Where can a veteran find legal assistance for discrimination, child custody, and education issues?

Sgt Elizabeth Chumbley — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 13:11:15 -0500

I need help with getting a computer for school since I start in January.

How do you find legal assistance to go after a complex that illegally kicked me out of my home and violating my civil rights along with discrimination to my mental health when I have PTSD it was actually physically assaulted by a neighbor along with a lot of verbal assault and stocking with intimidation too.?

I’m looking for assistance on getting my friends little girl Out of her home while her father gets mental health therapy through the VA. I’m looking to establish a place to live myself and would love to take care of her while he is getting the help he needs. How do I go about doing this legally?

I need help making sure I get reinstated to Colorado State University in next year May when I’m allowed to go back. I was suspended for two years due to legal issues I suffered out in town because of my PTSD. I just wanna make sure I can Finish my degree which is only a year and a half left of school I’ve got?

Response by COL Randall C. made Nov 29 at 2022 2:01 PM

COL Randall C. — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 14:01:03 -0500

Sgt Elizabeth Chumbley, I would contact Military OneSource* and talk to one of the counselors there. You sound like you have a pretty complex situation and are asking a variety of "need help doing..." type of questions.

To quote their tagline, "As a member of our military family, you are eligible to use this Department of Defense-funded program anytime, anywhere. If we can’t get you the answers you need, we’ll connect you to someone who can."
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* Contact info for Military OneSource
https://www.militaryonesource.mil/
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Support for Military Personnel & Families • Military OneSource

Active duty military resource website, offering 24/7 support for service members, spouses, their family and survivors on taxes, moving, benefits, MWR and more.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2022 2:05 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 14:05:34 -0500

Legal assistance on eviction from home: Google lawyers who handle veterans who are evicted? Or lawyers who handle cases for veterans... If you were assaulted, harassed and *stalked, did you report it to the police? Did you have a report filed?

Friend's child: Does this friend not have family nearby who can take her in? Where's her mother? If you don't have a home right now, there's likely no way you will get that child placed with you. They are going to want to find family to take her in before anyone not family. But you definitely would have to have a home, prove your financially stable, etc.

CSU: You got suspended for two years from a college because of "legal issues." What legal issues? Were you criminally convicted of something? If you have some kind of criminal convictions that also won't help you with the question on getting someone's child placed with you. Did you talk to CSU about how you get reinstated to attend classes there? They should have given you information on how you can reinstate yourself there once the suspension is done or if you can come back. If you don't want to go there, you have to find a college willing to take your credits you have and the baggage you come with.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Nov 29 at 2022 4:18 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 16:18:20 -0500

Harsh dose of reality in 3....2.....

You have a whole lot of stuff going on right now. Take them one at a time. Triage. What problem is most important right now? Start working on that with ALL of your focus and energy.

Once you have that ball rolling and on a comfortable glide-path, then start working the next one.

And, not to be harsh, but give up on being a caretaker for the child. You will NOT be considered as a suitable placement for that child. I work in Children's Services. I don't work for Colorado, but I do work with them on some of my cases - I take cases from all over the US. Part of my job is checking out potential homes for suitability. And I can tell you that with a felony conviction, a recent history of mental instability, and no residential stability, you have exactly ZERO chance of getting that little girl to live with you through any legal or official channels. Settle for being the best "aunt" ever and support whoever the child ends up with.

As a final piece of advice, stop blaming your PTSD. I am not saying you do not have PTSD. I am not saying your PTSD does not conplicate life. But regardless, *YOU* still acted. If you need help, get help. If you failed to get help and made regrettable decisions, that is STILL on you. You didn't suffer legal issues because of PTSD, you faced legal CONSEQUENCES because of your actions. Judges, juries, admissions counselors, lawyers, future employers, college administrators... ALL of them would prefer to see a flawed person who admits their flaws and is working on fixing themselves to a person who refuses to accept responsibility. And they rule more favorably, too.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Nov 30 at 2022 1:12 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 13:12:27 -0500

After reading this thread, all I can say is WOW! You want custody of a friend's child, but you don't have a place to live, you're a convicted felon and you say have PTSD. Your chances of getting that child is zero.
Instead of a lawyer, I would suggest that you call the VA Hotline and get hooked up with a therapist. You certainly aren't dealing with PTSD in a coherent manner. Get treated, the VA can usually help you get a place to stay.
You are going to find it hard to get a lawyer to help you since your story here is that you ran your car into another woman's car, then got out a beat her up. PTSD or not, that was a pretty stupid course of action.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2022 3:39 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 15:39:14 -0500

I have GAD, PTSD, Ataxia, and Epilepsy, I have had around 20 falls. Concussions, Sub Hematoma, Coma.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Dec 3 at 2022 7:33 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Sat, 03 Dec 2022 19:33:40 -0500

I’m proud of you for being a Sargent of Marines. That’s no small accomplishment. So step back, put on your dress blues, and read your post. How would you respond if one of you Lance Corporals came to you with this tale of woe and trouble. SFC Casey O'Mally and COL Randall C. gave excellent advice.

The housing thing looks easy to solve. Find another place to live. If you were discriminated against report it to the base housing office and the local city or county housing authority. If it was a legitimate beef then move on

Talk to a counselor at Colorado U. They can tell you if and how you can be readmitted. As far as your friend’s kid goes; forget it. You don’t need that level of complexity in your life.

Response by SMSgt Bob Wilson made Dec 8 at 2022 5:19 PM

SMSgt Bob Wilson — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 17:19:57 -0500

Call your city's or the largest city near your legal aid chapter, go to a veteran's group [VFW, American Legion, etc] and ask listing of attorneys.

Response by SPC Paul Gooch made Jan 3 at 2023 10:16 AM

SPC Paul Gooch — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 10:16:24 -0500

Me being me, I like to prioritize taking one task, one day at a time. I signed an oath back in 1986 and do byGOD exercise those rights every chance I get, whether people like me or not.
The wife and child come first. If the wife has done something aweful and disgusting, me ?, My focus was on my child, the constitution, the atmosphere