A FEW
WORDS
ABOUT US
ABOUT US
National Association for Black Veterans
Baltimore Chapter 0053
Who We Are
The Baltimore Chapter of the National Association for Black Veterans (NABVETS) is a local extension of the nationally recognized, congressionally chartered organization dedicated to advocating for the rights and well-being of Black veterans and all veterans in need. NABVETS was founded in 1969 and serves as a voice for minority and underserved veterans across the United States.
Our Baltimore chapter is committed to advancing the national organization’s mission through hyperlocal advocacy, community partnerships, and direct support for veterans in the Greater Baltimore area.
Our Mission
Aligned with NABVETS’ congressional mandate, we focus on:
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VA Benefits Advocacy: Assisting veterans in navigating disability claims, healthcare access, and education benefits.
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Homelessness Prevention: Collaborating with local agencies to provide housing resources and emergency shelter referrals.
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Historical Preservation: Documenting the contributions of Black veterans through partnerships with national archives.
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Community Education: Hosting workshops on veteran entitlements and mental health resources.
BALTIMORE CITY
VETERAN STATISTICS
30%
of Maryland's Black veterans reside in Baltimore City
8.6%
of veterans live below the poverty line
40%
enrolled in VA healthcare system
24%
of younger vets (18-44) using VA services have PTSD
BALTIMORE COUNTY
VETERAN STATISTICS
29%
of county veterans are Black/African American
4.1%
of veterans live below the poverty line
2.6%
veteran unemployment rate
30%
of enrolled veterans are Post-9/11 era
OUR HISTORY
Established in 1969 as the Interested Veterans of the Central City (IVOCC) and chartered by Congress in 1998, the National Association for Black Veterans (NABVETS) stands as the first Black-led Veterans Service Organization (VSO) certified to represent veterans before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Advocacy Rooted in Equity
As a congressionally recognized VSO, NABVETS Baltimore addresses systemic disparities in VA claims processing, where Black veterans face a 23.9% denial rate nationally compared to 16.1% for white veterans.
Our certified advocates provide free, personalized claims assistance—securing over $1.2 million in retroactive benefits for Baltimore veterans since 2022
