Veterans/Military Crisis Line
Need someone right now?
Free, confidential, answered 24/7 by people trained to work with military and veteran callers.
Dial 988, then press 1
You do not need to be enrolled in VA care or have a certain discharge status. Family and friends can call about someone they are worried about. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Talk to someone
Not a crisis, but things are heavy? These lines are for that, and they are better used early than late.
Vets4Warriors
Confidential peer support from trained peers, most of them veterans, run out of Rutgers and independent of the VA and the military. Good for talking before it turns into a crisis.
Military OneSource
Free non-medical counseling, financial counseling, and referrals through the Department of Defense. Covers active duty, Guard and Reserve, and their immediate families. Retired and separating members and their families are covered for up to 365 days after separation.
Vet Centers
Free readjustment counseling in a community office, run by the VA but separate from the hospital system. For veterans and service members who served in a combat zone or experienced military sexual trauma, plus their families. Call to confirm eligibility.
First responders
Lines staffed by people from the fire service, law enforcement, and EMS. Families can use them too.
Safe Call Now
Confidential 24-hour crisis referral line staffed by first responders.
Fire/EMS Helpline
Created by the National Volunteer Fire Council for firefighters, EMTs, rescue personnel, and their families.
Copline
Confidential line for law enforcement officers and their families, answered by retired officers.
SAFETY AT HOME
For anyone dealing with abuse in a relationship, or worried about someone who is.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Confidential, anonymous advocates for crisis support, safety planning, and referrals to local shelters. If you think your phone or computer is being monitored, call instead of using chat or text.
Text START to 88788
Crisis lines and navigation (12)
Start here if you are not sure which door to knock on.
Veterans/Military Crisis Line
24/7 for veterans, service members, Guard and Reserve, and loved ones. No VA enrollment needed.
Text: 838255
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
24/7 emotional support for anyone, including first responders and family members. Call 911 for an immediate physical emergency.
VA National Call Center for Homeless Veterans
24/7 help for veterans who are homeless or about to lose housing. It connects you to help but is not a payment approval.
Safe Call Now
Confidential 24/7 peer support and referrals for first responders, public safety personnel, and families.
Copline
Confidential 24/7 support for current and former law enforcement and their families.
Safe Helpline
Confidential support for military community members affected by sexual assault. Online chat available.
211
Local referrals for food, housing, utilities, and transportation. No military status needed.
MyVA411
VA benefits and services information and routing, 24/7.
Military OneSource
Counseling connections, transition help, and financial guidance. Separated and retired households are covered 365 days after service.
VA-accredited Veterans Service Organizations
Free help with VA claims and benefits. Verify accreditation, and skip paid claims companies.
DAV
Benefits help, employment resources, and local medical transportation. Services vary by area.
National Archives, military records
Request a DD214 or other service records. Most eligible veteran and next-of-kin requests are free.
Financial help (17)
Aid societies first, then national nonprofits. Ask each whether help is a grant, a loan, or a service, and what expenses they cover.
Army Emergency Relief (AER)
Financial assistance for active duty and retired soldiers. Help with food, rent, utilities, and emergency travel.
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS)
Interest-free loans and grants for active duty and retired Navy and Marines.
Air Force Aid Society (AFAS)
Emergency assistance and educational support for Airmen, Guardians, and their families.
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA)
The official relief society of the U.S. Coast Guard, providing financial aid and support services.
The American Legion
Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) for minor children of eligible active duty and Legion members.
VFW Unmet Needs
Grants to military families who have run into unexpected financial difficulties due to deployment or other military related activity.
Semper Fi & America’s Fund
Critical financial assistance and lifetime support for combat wounded, ill, and injured service members from all branches.
PenFed Foundation
Provides financial assistance for veterans, focusing on housing, financial education, and stability.
Operation First Response (OFR)
Assistance for wounded warriors and their families with travel, lodging, and essential house expenses.
Hope For The Warriors
Financial assistance for immediate needs, as well as career, transition, and clinical health services.
USA Cares
Immediate financial help for military families in crisis, with a focus on preventing foreclosure and eviction.
Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes
Emergency financial assistance for severely wounded veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Support Our Troops
Provides a variety of assistance including grants and goods to military families in need.
Folds of Honor
Provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of military members who have fallen or been disabled while serving.
Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation
Supports Purple Heart recipients and their families through professional veteran claim assistance and various support programs.
Gary Sinise Foundation
Supports veterans, first responders, and their families through various programs, including R.I.S.E. for specially adapted smart homes.
The Independence Fund
Committed to empowering our nation's catastrophically wounded, injured, or ill veterans and their caregivers through innovative programs.
First responders (6)
Support, wellness, and family aid for fire, EMS, law enforcement, and their families.
Gary Sinise Foundation, First Responder Support
Support for qualifying first responders and families. Department equipment and training grants are a separate pathway.
First Responders Children's Foundation
Hardship assistance, scholarships, and family programs for qualifying first-responder households.
ResponderStrong
Mental health information and support connections for first responders. Crisis text: send BADGE to 741741.
National Volunteer Fire Council, Share the Load
Behavioral health resources and a provider directory for the fire and EMS community.
Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance
Behavioral health education and suicide prevention training for fire and EMS.
Firefighter Cancer Support Network
Cancer support and peer mentoring for firefighters, EMS personnel, and immediate family.
Find Your Way Forward. Reconnect. Reset. Recover.
Trail to Recovery is a peer-led outdoor program for veterans, active duty service members, and first responders. We are not a crisis service or a medical provider. The groups listed here are separate from T2R.
National directory last checked October 2026. Phone numbers and eligibility rules change, so call to confirm before you count on anything.