New York City's Veteran Suicide Prevention Program Is Fully Funded, Thank You.

State funding secured for FY27, and a community that showed up made all the difference.

We have good news.

Last month, we put out a call to action. We asked veterans, families, and community members to show up and testify before City Council to protect the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program, a program that provides peer-to-peer support for veterans across all five boroughs, reducing isolation and strengthening connections in ways that clinical services alone simply can’t.

You answered. The response was overwhelming, and we’re grateful for every person who was ready to stand up.

Here’s the update: you won’t need to testify on this one.

We've received confirmation from the NYC Department of Veteran Services that the Dwyer Program is fully funded and will continue without interruption across all five boroughs. When the Mayor's FY27 Preliminary Budget dropped without the State grant rollover funds that appeared in FY26, we flagged it immediately. Thankfully, since then, the State has approved the rollover into FY27, bringing funding back in line with recent levels. The budget process worked, in part, because people were paying attention. City Council still has a role to play in the final budget, and we'll be expecting them to use it. That means fully supporting DVS and the programs that keep veterans alive and connected in this city.

To everyone who responded to our call, thank you. This community’s willingness to mobilize sends a message about who’s watching and who’s willing to stand up. That reputation is worth building, and worth keeping.

If you’re a veteran or a family member, this program is for you.

The Dwyer Program runs peer support events across all five boroughs, led by veterans, for veterans. If you or someone you love has been struggling with isolation, with the transition home, or with anything in between, this is exactly what the program was built for.

Take a look at what’s happening near you and show up.

In Service,

The Five Borough Veterans Team