Supporting Veterans and their families through community and connection

Michigan’s VETLIFE promotes a safer and healthier post-service lifestyle, connecting Veterans with services, benefits and resources

“It’s not that Veterans don’t want their benefits, it’s that they don’t know how to access them—or might not even fully understand what they are.”

Joshua Parish and his wife Cortnie identified what they call a “systemic issue” in 2018 after Parish returned from active duty in Iraq. While post-service supports were thought to be simple, Joshua and Cortnie found that the reality of accessing services and benefits was wrought with barriers.

“My wife and I sat at the kitchen table one night to dream up a way to help Veterans so they wouldn’t have to face the same struggles we did,” says Joshua. “We never thought we’d start a non-profit, but we figured that if no one else was doing it, then why shouldn’t we?”

VETLIFE was launched in 2018 to help address issues of access and awareness by offering sustainable solutions and resources to improve quality of life for Veterans and their families across the state.

Military service can be difficult and dangerous, but returning to civilian life also poses risks of its own. A 2020 report found that the suicide rate for U.S. Veterans was 57% higher than non-Veteran U.S. residents.

“The impacts of trauma, isolation, and stress all contribute to the difficulties that Veterans often experience when reintegrating into civilian life,” says Joshua. “The last thing they need is issues accessing support that will help them overcome these impacts.”

Active duty, retired, or military Veteran families also gather for Vet Fest every year, where VETLIFE hosts thousands of attendees to gather and learn more about Veteran-specific resources. Vet Fest is Michigan’s largest Veteran engagement event and is offered free of charge.