Saturday January 03, 2009
Veterans in Idaho
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See also: Idaho is home to 136,000 military veterans. Compared to other states, Idaho is experiencing one of the highest percentage increases in veteran population. These brave men and women have sacrificed much for their country, and we have a responsibility to recognize the effect their military service may have on their civilian lives. This page contains useful information and links on the many benefits and services provided for our veterans and their families.
Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Benefits Administration
The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is the benefits division of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VBA provides benefits divided into five different categories:
- compensation and pension
- education
- vocational rehabilitation
- home loans
- life insurance
Veterans, service members, and qualifying family members qualify for benefits under the VBA.
Boise Regional Office
The Boise Regional Office administers monetary benefits to veterans in Idaho, Utah, and Oregon.
805 W. Franklin Street
Boise, ID 837021-800-827-1000
Fax: 1-208-334-9066
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Veterans Health Administration
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides medical, prescription, surgical, and rehabilitative services to US veterans. A unit of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the VHA serves active and former military service members, reservists, and National Guard members called to active duty. Veterans' family members also qualify for select services. The VHA coordinates a variety of special programs that address general veteran health issues, such as blind rehabilitation, Agent Orange health program, HIV/AIDS information services, and cancer programs.
In Idaho, the VA operates a major medical center in Boise and community outpatient clinics in Caldwell and Twin Falls (supported by the Boise medical center), Lewiston (supported by the Walla Walla medical center) and Pocatello (supported by the Salt Lake City medical center).
Boise VAMCs Primary Service Area has a radius of approximately 160 miles with an estimated veteran population of 70,000. The Boise VA Medical Center also operates a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Twin Falls, Idaho and Caldwell, Idaho. A behavioral health clinic is located in Salmon, Idaho. A Vet Center and Veterans Benefits Office are both located in Boise.
Boise VA Medical Center
500 West Fort Street
Boise ID 83716
(208) 422-1000
Medical Center: 24/7
Administrative Offices: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Community Based Outpatient Clinics
Caldwell Clinic
120 E Pine
Caldwell, ID 83605
(208) 454-4820
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Lewiston Idaho CBOC
627 6th Avenue
Lewiston, ID 83501
(208) 746-7784
Pocatello Outpatient Clinic
444 Hospital Way, Suite 801
Pocatello, ID 83201
(208) 232-6214
Twin Falls Outpatient Clinic
260 2nd Avenue East
Twin Falls, ID 83301
(208) 732-0959
Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Closed on Fridays
Salmon, Idaho Behavioral Health Clinic
111 Lillian Street #203
Salmon, ID 83467
(208) 756-8515
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Veterans Centers
Vet Centers provide readjustment counseling and outreach services to all veterans who served in any combat zone. Services are also available for their family members for military-related issues. Veterans have earned these benefits through their service and all are provided at no cost to the veteran or family. Vet Centers are staffed by small, multi-disciplinary teams of dedicated providers, many of whom are combat veterans themselves.
Boise Vet Center
5440 Franklin Road Suite 100
Boise, ID 83705
(208)-342-3612; Fax (208)-342-0327
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Pocatello Vet Center
1800 Garrett Way
Pocatello, ID 83201
(208)-232-0316; Fax (208)-232-6258
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Idaho State
Idaho Division of Veterans Services
The Division of Veterans Services has the responsibility to provide care and extend financial assistance to disabled and destitute Idaho wartime veterans and their dependents. Services include managing and operating State Veterans Homes, maintaining an Office of Veterans Advocacy, extending emergency financial assistance to disabled or destitute veterans and their families, and operating the State Veterans Cemetery.
320 Collins Road
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 334-3513; Fax (208) 334-2627
Idaho State Veterans Cemetery
The State of Idaho’s Cemetery is located in northwest Boise on 76.5 acres adjacent to the Dry Creek Cemetery. The site is just North of Hill Road and East of Horseshoe bends Road. The Cemetery’s current capacity provides burial spaces for over 25,000 veterans and spouses.
Governor Dirk Kempthorne presided at the dedication of the Cemetery on July 31, 2004, before a crowd of over 3,000 veterans and supporters. SPC Brandon Titus was killed by enemy fire on August 17th while serving in Iraq and became the first interment in the new cemetery on August 30, 2004. The official opening of the cemetery was in November 2004.
The cemetery is located at:
10100 North Horseshoe Bend Road
Boise, ID 83714
The Office of Veterans Advocacy is a full-service state agency that assists veterans, their family members and survivors. The office is an advocate for veterans and their families, staffed with benefits specialists to pursue all federal and state benefits and entitlements on their behalf. The office also administers the Emergency Relief Program, which provides monetary assistance to qualified veterans and their families.
In addition to the office in Boise, service officers are available at all Idaho State Veterans Homes. Outreach services are available for areas which are not near a Veterans Service Office. It also offers a referral service to provide veterans with accurate and current information on the range of issues associated with veterans’ benefits and entitlements. This service is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30p.m. Messages may be left 24 hours a day.
805 West Franklin Street, RM 201
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 334-1245; Fax (208) 334-3549
Idaho Veterans Housing Programs
The Idaho State Veterans Homes are available to Idaho veterans who served during a peace or wartime period, and, effective July 1, 2006, to veterans’ spouses. Skilled nursing care is available to Idaho veterans who are certified as needing such care by a licensed physician.
Idaho State Veterans Homes include:
Idaho State Veterans Home (Boise)
Provides nursing care and domiciliary/residential care
320 Collins Road
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 246-8736; Fax (208) 334-4753
Idaho State Veterans Home (Pocatello)
Provides nursing care
1957 Alvin Ricken Drive
Pocatello, ID 83201
(208) 236-6340
Idaho State Veterans Home (Lewiston)
Provides nursing care
821 21st Avenue
Lewiston, ID 83501
(208) 799-3422
Click here to learn more about Idaho State Veterans Homes and services.
Idaho State Parks Veterans Pass
Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) offers Veteran’s Pass that waives all camping fees for Idaho veterans who are 100% service-related disabled. This pass, which is wallet size, is good for one camping site per eligible veteran for his/her family. All an eligible Idaho veteran will typically need to pay a reservation fee and any utility hookups. Click here to learn more about the Idaho State Park Veteran pass (pdf)
Veterans Service Organizations in Idaho
901 Warren Street
Boise, ID 83706
(208) 342-7061
Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
805 W. Franklin Street
Boise, ID 83702-5560
(208) 334-1956Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
1425 S. Roosevelt
Boise, ID 83705
(208) 342-2438
Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH)
P.O. Box 463
Boise, ID 83701-0463
(208) 322-8309
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