Top Questions

While ROGER is currently tailored to New Jersey, there are national resources listed in the database that may have a chapter, location, or virtual service option near you. For example, A veteran in Pennsylvania may still find a national organization listed on ROGER, but ROGER is not currently a full Pennsylvania resource directory. Users outside New Jersey can still search ROGER, but the most relevant results will usually be for people living in or connected to New Jersey until additional regions are fully launched. ROGER will be expanding to New York in the summer of 2026.

No. The red chat bubble connects you with the ROGER team, not the organization whose profile you are viewing. The chat feature is available to help with questions about how to use ROGER, navigating the platform, reporting incorrect or outdated information, technical issues, and general resource navigation assistance. ROGER cannot submit applications on your behalf, check application status, approve benefits or services, access organization records or case files, or make decisions on behalf of an organization. If you have questions about a specific organization’s programs, eligibility requirements, services, waitlists, applications, or availability, please contact that organization directly using the phone number, email address, website, or physical address provided on its profile page.

For example, if a user is viewing a housing organization page and clicks the red chat bubble, they are contacting the ROGER team, not that housing provider.

If you need support regarding the ROGER platform itself, please contact us. This includes questions about using the website, reporting a broken link, updating listing information, or experiencing a technical issue. For personalized assistance and help navigating resources, please complete the Veteran Intake Form. The intake form allows Backpacks For Life to better understand your situation and provide more hands-on support when appropriate.

For example,  A user who found an inactive phone number should use Contact Us. A veteran who needs help figuring out where to start and wants a deeper review of their situation should complete the Veteran Intake Form.

We recommend watching our short tutorial video before starting your first search. The video will walk you through the platform and show you how to find resources more effectively. Once you are ready, begin your search by selecting the categories and filters that best match your needs. You can narrow your results using criteria such as category of support needed, ZIP code, branch of service, discharge status, demographics, keywords, and virtual or in-person services. The more information and filters you apply, the more targeted your search results will be, helping you quickly identify organizations and resources that may be the best fit for your situation. The tutorial video and filters help users avoid feeling overwhelmed and make the platform easier to navigate.

For example, if you are a post-9/11 Army veteran living in Ocean County looking for housing assistance, you can apply those filters to narrow your results and find the most relevant resources available to you.

No. ROGER does not provide direct financial aid, grants, bill payment, legal advice, medical advice, diagnoses, healthcare services, or emergency response. ROGER can help users find organizations that may provide support related to financial assistance, legal help, healthcare, housing, benefits, or other needs. ROGER may guide users toward organizations that sound relevant to their situation, but users should contact those organizations directly for specific advice, eligibility, applications, and services. If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911. For mental health crisis support, call or text 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line. If you are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness in New Jersey, you can also contact NJ 211 for housing and community resource referrals.

For example, a veteran behind on rent can search ROGER for rent assistance or housing resources, but ROGER does not pay the bill or decide eligibility. A user with a legal question can search for legal-service organizations, but ROGER does not give legal advice

No. ROGER is a directory and search platform. Organizations listed on ROGER operate independently and are responsible for their own programs, eligibility requirements, applications, communications, services, wait lists, funding, and decisions. Users should contact organizations directly regarding eligibility, applications, services, benefits, program details, and case-specific questions.

For example, if a user is viewing Veterans Haven North on ROGER, that does not mean ROGER operates Veterans Haven North. ROGER helps the user find the listing; the listed organization is the service provider and can be contacted directly for services. This helps prevent user frustration from contacting ROGER for application status, benefits decisions, appointments, or program-specific support that only the listed organization can answer.

ROGER was created to help not only veterans find resources, but also the people and organizations supporting them. This includes family members, caregivers, case managers, VSOs, veteran-serving organizations, active-duty service members, National Guard members, Reserve members, and military spouses. Veteran support often involves families, caregivers, and professionals. ROGER is meant to help the full support network. A daughter helping her veteran father, a VSO helping a client, or a caregiver looking for support can all use ROGER to search for resources.

Yes. ROGER is a free tool that can be used by anyone searching for veteran and military-connected resources. It is also free for organizations to be listed on ROGER. Keeping ROGER free removes barriers for veterans, families, caregivers, VSOs, case managers, and organizations trying to connect with support. For example, a caregiver can search ROGER, open listings, print a profile, and contact an organization without paying a fee.

ROGER was created by Backpacks For Life, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2014. The platform was developed with support from Influence Design, Cilderman Solutions, the Backpacks For Life team, volunteers, community partners, and the veteran community. ROGER was built from real veteran-support experience and is backed by a nonprofit mission rooted in serving the homeless and at-risk veteran community since 2014.

ROGER is a free resource navigation platform created by Backpacks For Life to help veterans, service members, military families, caregivers, and supporters find organizations, programs, benefits, and services throughout New Jersey. We aim to bridge the gap between the veteran and the resource. ROGER exists because finding help can be overwhelming. The platform puts organized veteran resources in one place so people spend less time searching and more time connecting with support.

Example: A veteran in Ocean County looking for housing support can search ROGER by category and location, review organization profiles, and contact providers directly using the phone number, email, website, or application link on each listing.