October 31, 2024 • 8 mins
My guest is Amber Ndubuisi, a Disable Veteran Outreach Specialist who breaks down many of the benefits of the Hamilton County Veterans Commission. From health & wellness, to legal services, educational programs, housing, financial assistance and so much more, the Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission is available to help, in person and online.
Click here for the Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission website.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Phone 513-946-3300
Fax 513-946-3320
Click here for the Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission website.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Phone 513-946-3300
Fax 513-946-3320
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We're back on iHeart Cincy. I'm Sandy Collins.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
My next guest is from the Hamilton County Veterans Service
Commission Amber Indubissy.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
She is the outreach coordinator.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
She's the one that wants everyone to know what is
available for veterans in the Tri State at the Hamilton
County Veterans Commission Amber.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Welcome to the show. You still serving about.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Forty thousand veterans with your your huge group Steve and
all the guys.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Yes, ma'am, Actually we're a little over forty thousand, but
that's the good number.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
We had the Veterans Appreciation Day earlier this summer. Were
you a part of that and how did that go?
Speaker 4 (00:37):
I was?
Speaker 1 (00:38):
I was.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
So that was a new thing, that was a new
initiative and we will do that yearly. We're actually starting
already to plan for next year. So that's something that
we'll be offering yearly from here on out.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
It was a great, great turnout, Great America.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Ballpark, back behind the scenes tours, all of the veterans
possible needs, all represented by folks. They're answering questions and
getting stuff done, and it was a great idea. I know,
I talked to Alicia Reese and it was just a
great Hamilton County collaboration with you guys. Veterans Day is
always November the eleventh and any special plans for that day.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
So we aren't hosting anything just from the Veterans Service
Commission at Hamilton County, but we are collaborating with a
lot of different agencies and that have initiatives going on
for their veterans. So we will have a week of
events where we'll be at a retirement home. We'll do
an event with Glendale Plays. It's so many retirement communities
that now want us to come out and speak to
(01:37):
their residents at are veterans, and we call them the
forgotten veterans. So we have been doing things and wild
dedications and their honor and stuff.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
So are these still mostly Vietnam vets?
Speaker 3 (01:49):
So it is, but I think we're getting to that
finicky space where we are starting to see more Golf
War veterans and post nine eleven and stuff veterans, but
it is still the Vietnam and Korean War veterans that
we are seeing.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Yeah, and any veteran can be a part of your organization,
whether you just retired last year and you were in
for four years, you know.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
And that's our goal to reach them all. Eighteen to infinity.
We want to reach all veterans. Well, let's past president
and future.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Let's tell the vets how to join right now and
then we'll get back to what you've got coming up.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah, So you can always call the Hamilton County Veterans
Service Commission and our direct line is five one three
nine four six three three zero zero and our receptionists
will send you to the appropriate service officer depending on yournee.
You can also go online at our website HVSC dot
org and there you can find applications for emergency assistance
(02:42):
transportation requests, or you can just ask a question and
have a Veterans Service officer to call you directly. And
as always, you can walk up. You don't have to
have an appointment. And we are at two thirty East
ninth Street and the William hart Taff Building on the
first floor and you can walk in and have any answer,
any questions asked and answered and lifetime as well.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
The whole transportation area has completely changed with technology and
with funding.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
What have you got coming up now?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
It's new, So we are starting to focus on our
transportation department. So currently we partner with Metro and we
also have flex which is our partnership with Uber and
left to get veterans to their VA appointments. But we
will be rolling out our new transportation department and where
we'll have our own vans and our own means to
(03:28):
transport our veterans as well, So it won't it won't
cease the partnership that we have with Metro, but we're
just adding to that so we can service more veterans.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
When is it going to go into effect?
Speaker 3 (03:40):
So we are in the process of picking our vehicos,
so hopefully it'll be up and running soon. You know,
we'll be moving next year, so we'll definitely be moving
with an up and running transportation department.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
And so what kind of transportation can a veteran get
from you? For the doctor's appointments, what else?
Speaker 3 (03:59):
And that includes community care, so a lot of veterans
see specialists outside of the VA or even if you
want to use a community provider, then we give you
transportation to that.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
And that looks like bus passes.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
You can come down and get bus passes or we
can mail them to you. You can also we can
help you to apply for Metro Access, which is their
door to door service, and then Flex which is us
reimbursing you for any uber or lift rides that you use.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
So if you're a veteran you're not familiar with all
these benefits, certainly check it out. It is HVSC dot org.
I'm talking with Amber Indubisi. Amber is the outreach manager
and you just said that's a new department.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
What are you're hoping to do with that new role?
Speaker 4 (04:47):
So I want to do outreach.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Like like you said earlier, we serve over forty thousand
veterans and we just want to make sure that we're
providing services to all those veterans and touching them in
some way, just to make.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
Sure they'reware that we're here and we're here to help.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
So that's me going out into the community, attending events,
throwing events, and bring it out in reach opportunities as well,
so teaching financial literacy and walking through home loan processes.
So those are some things we'll do in house as well,
just connecting all the resources we have through the veterans.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Amber. A lot of times you hear complaints from veterans
that they can't get what they need done, whether it's
through the hospital or through the government itself. You guys
provide help for that. So if they've been turned down before,
what would you suggest somebody do to have another set
(05:39):
of eyes look at their situation.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Just that, to have another set of eyes look at
their situation. So our service officers were all certified to
do claim work, and that is if they even if
they received a no, we help with the appeal process.
And there's so many levels to the appeal. A lot
of times when a veteran gets no, they get bobbed
down with it, and which is understan But just understand
that it's no right now, and then we'll try to
(06:04):
figure out if there is a way to make it
a yes. And so if that means an appill or
you know, looking over the claim or whatever we need
to do to assist, that's what we're here to do.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
And my favorite part the services are free, correct part
of your membership.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Everything is free.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
We don't want you getting attorneys, We don't want you
dealing with agencies that are saying that they're representing veterans.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
We don't want that. We want you to come to
us and let us assist you for free.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
And what else did you tell me you had coming up?
You had the transportation and what was the other part.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
So and I'm so cause I'm so excited about this,
Like I'm sorry, I'm so passionate about this. But we
wanted to do a holiday meal and so we were
trying to figure out how we could establish this.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
So we will be helping veterans.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
You have to fill out the application, but we will
be helping veterans with either Thanksgiving meal or a Christmas meal.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
And that looks like gift cards.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
So you just out an application for the holiday meal and
if you if you're not picked for Thanksgiving, then Christmas
is available as well, and we'll be giving out gift
cards for you to purchase your meal.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Right and for veterans that don't celebrate any sort of
a religious holiday, can they still get a meal in
December for like the winter Solstice or whatever, you know.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
And so it's just your holiday meal, but it's a
gift card. So when you go to the store, you
buy whatever you want. As long as we help and
you have it, our.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Job is done.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Yeah, Amber, that's a great idea and that's very generous
to offer that what kind of turnout are you expecting
with this first year.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
I think that we're going to be overwhelmed, and that's good.
We'll just know how to adjust for next year. We're
at another holiday, there's Easter coming up. There's ways to
do it. So what we do is we're creating these
new initiatives, We're measuring them by the input and then
we'll readjust.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Well, it sounds terrific. Thank you so much for being
on the show today. We're going to make sure that
the veterans know that the Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission
is there and serving veterans all across the tri States.
So thank you, Amber, appreciate it. Say hi to Steve
and everybody and thanks for what you do.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Thank you Fandy.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
That is iHeart Sincy for this week. For questions, comments
or suggestions for guests or important topics that need the
light shine on them, just email me iHeart Sinsey with
an I at iHeartMedia dot com. Iheartsincy is on the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
There is a.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Trove of local information there from the last couple of
years that you will find helpful, hopefully and heartwarming. Until
next week, I'm Sandy Collins, thanks for listening.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
iHeart Cincy is a production of iHeartMedia, Cincinnati,
We're back on iHeart Cincy. I'm Sandy Collins.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
My next guest is from the Hamilton County Veterans Service
Commission Amber Indubissy.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
She is the outreach coordinator.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
She's the one that wants everyone to know what is
available for veterans in the Tri State at the Hamilton
County Veterans Commission Amber.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Welcome to the show. You still serving about.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Forty thousand veterans with your your huge group Steve and
all the guys.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Yes, ma'am, Actually we're a little over forty thousand, but
that's the good number.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
We had the Veterans Appreciation Day earlier this summer. Were
you a part of that and how did that go?
Speaker 4 (00:37):
I was?
Speaker 1 (00:38):
I was.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
So that was a new thing, that was a new
initiative and we will do that yearly. We're actually starting
already to plan for next year. So that's something that
we'll be offering yearly from here on out.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
It was a great, great turnout, Great America.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Ballpark, back behind the scenes tours, all of the veterans
possible needs, all represented by folks. They're answering questions and
getting stuff done, and it was a great idea. I know,
I talked to Alicia Reese and it was just a
great Hamilton County collaboration with you guys. Veterans Day is
always November the eleventh and any special plans for that day.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
So we aren't hosting anything just from the Veterans Service
Commission at Hamilton County, but we are collaborating with a
lot of different agencies and that have initiatives going on
for their veterans. So we will have a week of
events where we'll be at a retirement home. We'll do
an event with Glendale Plays. It's so many retirement communities
that now want us to come out and speak to
(01:37):
their residents at are veterans, and we call them the
forgotten veterans. So we have been doing things and wild
dedications and their honor and stuff.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
So are these still mostly Vietnam vets?
Speaker 3 (01:49):
So it is, but I think we're getting to that
finicky space where we are starting to see more Golf
War veterans and post nine eleven and stuff veterans, but
it is still the Vietnam and Korean War veterans that
we are seeing.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Yeah, and any veteran can be a part of your organization,
whether you just retired last year and you were in
for four years, you know.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
And that's our goal to reach them all. Eighteen to infinity.
We want to reach all veterans. Well, let's past president
and future.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Let's tell the vets how to join right now and
then we'll get back to what you've got coming up.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah, So you can always call the Hamilton County Veterans
Service Commission and our direct line is five one three
nine four six three three zero zero and our receptionists
will send you to the appropriate service officer depending on yournee.
You can also go online at our website HVSC dot
org and there you can find applications for emergency assistance
(02:42):
transportation requests, or you can just ask a question and
have a Veterans Service officer to call you directly. And
as always, you can walk up. You don't have to
have an appointment. And we are at two thirty East
ninth Street and the William hart Taff Building on the
first floor and you can walk in and have any answer,
any questions asked and answered and lifetime as well.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
The whole transportation area has completely changed with technology and
with funding.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
What have you got coming up now?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
It's new, So we are starting to focus on our
transportation department. So currently we partner with Metro and we
also have flex which is our partnership with Uber and
left to get veterans to their VA appointments. But we
will be rolling out our new transportation department and where
we'll have our own vans and our own means to
(03:28):
transport our veterans as well, So it won't it won't
cease the partnership that we have with Metro, but we're
just adding to that so we can service more veterans.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
When is it going to go into effect?
Speaker 3 (03:40):
So we are in the process of picking our vehicos,
so hopefully it'll be up and running soon. You know,
we'll be moving next year, so we'll definitely be moving
with an up and running transportation department.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
And so what kind of transportation can a veteran get
from you? For the doctor's appointments, what else?
Speaker 3 (03:59):
And that includes community care, so a lot of veterans
see specialists outside of the VA or even if you
want to use a community provider, then we give you
transportation to that.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
And that looks like bus passes.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
You can come down and get bus passes or we
can mail them to you. You can also we can
help you to apply for Metro Access, which is their
door to door service, and then Flex which is us
reimbursing you for any uber or lift rides that you use.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
So if you're a veteran you're not familiar with all
these benefits, certainly check it out. It is HVSC dot org.
I'm talking with Amber Indubisi. Amber is the outreach manager
and you just said that's a new department.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
What are you're hoping to do with that new role?
Speaker 4 (04:47):
So I want to do outreach.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Like like you said earlier, we serve over forty thousand
veterans and we just want to make sure that we're
providing services to all those veterans and touching them in
some way, just to make.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
Sure they'reware that we're here and we're here to help.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
So that's me going out into the community, attending events,
throwing events, and bring it out in reach opportunities as well,
so teaching financial literacy and walking through home loan processes.
So those are some things we'll do in house as well,
just connecting all the resources we have through the veterans.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Amber. A lot of times you hear complaints from veterans
that they can't get what they need done, whether it's
through the hospital or through the government itself. You guys
provide help for that. So if they've been turned down before,
what would you suggest somebody do to have another set
(05:39):
of eyes look at their situation.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Just that, to have another set of eyes look at
their situation. So our service officers were all certified to
do claim work, and that is if they even if
they received a no, we help with the appeal process.
And there's so many levels to the appeal. A lot
of times when a veteran gets no, they get bobbed
down with it, and which is understan But just understand
that it's no right now, and then we'll try to
(06:04):
figure out if there is a way to make it
a yes. And so if that means an appill or
you know, looking over the claim or whatever we need
to do to assist, that's what we're here to do.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
And my favorite part the services are free, correct part
of your membership.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Everything is free.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
We don't want you getting attorneys, We don't want you
dealing with agencies that are saying that they're representing veterans.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
We don't want that. We want you to come to
us and let us assist you for free.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
And what else did you tell me you had coming up?
You had the transportation and what was the other part.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
So and I'm so cause I'm so excited about this,
Like I'm sorry, I'm so passionate about this. But we
wanted to do a holiday meal and so we were
trying to figure out how we could establish this.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
So we will be helping veterans.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
You have to fill out the application, but we will
be helping veterans with either Thanksgiving meal or a Christmas meal.
Speaker 4 (06:57):
And that looks like gift cards.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
So you just out an application for the holiday meal and
if you if you're not picked for Thanksgiving, then Christmas
is available as well, and we'll be giving out gift
cards for you to purchase your meal.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Right and for veterans that don't celebrate any sort of
a religious holiday, can they still get a meal in
December for like the winter Solstice or whatever, you know.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
And so it's just your holiday meal, but it's a
gift card. So when you go to the store, you
buy whatever you want. As long as we help and
you have it, our.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Job is done.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Yeah, Amber, that's a great idea and that's very generous
to offer that what kind of turnout are you expecting
with this first year.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
I think that we're going to be overwhelmed, and that's good.
We'll just know how to adjust for next year. We're
at another holiday, there's Easter coming up. There's ways to
do it. So what we do is we're creating these
new initiatives, We're measuring them by the input and then
we'll readjust.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Well, it sounds terrific. Thank you so much for being
on the show today. We're going to make sure that
the veterans know that the Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission
is there and serving veterans all across the tri States.
So thank you, Amber, appreciate it. Say hi to Steve
and everybody and thanks for what you do.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Thank you Fandy.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
That is iHeart Sincy for this week. For questions, comments
or suggestions for guests or important topics that need the
light shine on them, just email me iHeart Sinsey with
an I at iHeartMedia dot com. Iheartsincy is on the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
There is a.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Trove of local information there from the last couple of
years that you will find helpful, hopefully and heartwarming. Until
next week, I'm Sandy Collins, thanks for listening.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
iHeart Cincy is a production of iHeartMedia, Cincinnati,
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