The Columbia County Veterans Service Agency - Rachel Hamilton, Director, with Edward Coons, Jr. the Deputy Director - at 389 Fairview Ave., Suite 7, Hudson (518-828-3610, fax 518-671-6149), assists with VA benefits and claims, disability compensation, pension and survivor benefits, obtains DD-214s and medical records, runs the veterans food pantry Monday to Friday 10 to 1, and takes tele-health appointments with the veteran’s own VA doctors.
New York counties keep a veterans' service agency under the Veterans' Services Law; see the New York entry. Columbia's agency page names the staff - "Rachel Hamilton, Director" and "Edward Coons, Jr., Deputy Director" - and the contact block: 389 Fairview Ave., Suite 7, Hudson, NY 12534; 518-828-3610 (office); fax 518-671-6149.
The office's own list. The site's "Services We Offer" sheet (DocumentCenter 2646): "*ASSISTANCE WITH VA BENEFITS & CLAIMS. *DISABILITY HELP WITH COMPENSATION. *PENSION & SURVIVOR BENEFITS GUIDANCE. *ASSISTING WITH OBTAINING DD-214 - MEDICAL RECORDS. *TRANSPORTATION TO ALBANY STRATTON VA Daily. *VETERANS FOOD PANTRY M-F 10-1PM. *MONTHLY VETERANS LUNCHEON. *COFFEE HOUR SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH. *COUNSELING & SUPPORT REFERRALS." The page adds: "Please note that Veterans are now able to have Tele-Health meetings in our office with their doctors and don't have to travel out of town."
What the office does in the year. The County Government Committee's October 15, 2025 minutes carry Director Hamilton's report: transportation drivers being set up as a per-diem pool with HR; "Rachel has assisted 2 Veterans in getting 100% total and permanent disability ratings"; "the Deputy Director has started in the office"; and "EZ Pass is free for disabled Veterans [30% or more disabled] - reach out to the office for an application." The January 21, 2026 minutes: "successful monthly coffee hours and luncheons for veterans and their spouses/friends, with high attendance. The department has seen an increase in veterans visiting the office, with Rachel securing 10 to 12 veterans a 100% total and permanent rating. The New York State Legion Commander visited and shared new information regarding grants for veterans' housing and home repairs." The same report describes the pantry's new female-veteran hygiene section and the 714 Christmas cards hand-written by pantry volunteers and widows "for veterans in nursing homes, the VA, and those deployed overseas."
The van. The committee's October 15, 2025 resolution request - "Authorization for the Columbia County Veterans Service Agency to Purchase an Adult Passenger Transit Van and Amend the 2025 Columbia County Budget" - carried unanimously and was adopted as Resolution No. 24 of the October 22, 2025 Finance meeting.
Where. Columbia County Veterans Service Agency, 389 Fairview Ave., Suite 7, Hudson, NY 12534; 518-828-3610, fax 518-671-6149. The county office building is at 401 State Street, Hudson.
Thresholds
Thresholds for Columbia County Veterans Service Agency
Gate
Rule
Columbia County veterans, dependents and survivors
Free claims help, the pantry and the rides; no rating or discharge condition is published.
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Disclaimer
VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.