The LINC VA Act creates a new pilot program to help veterans connect with community services they need. Starting within a year, the Department of Veterans Affairs will set up an online platform at five different VA medical facilities that brings together various organizations—both government and nonprofit—to coordinate support for veterans in one place.

Through this platform, veterans can access or get referred to services like job training, food assistance, mental health care, transportation, childcare, housing help, and suicide prevention programs. The system works by connecting VA doctors and staff with local community organizations, so when a veteran needs something, they can be quickly connected to the right resource. The platform will also collect information from veterans about their living situations and social challenges—like housing instability, food insecurity, or lack of transportation—that might affect their health, using a standardized checklist so the VA can better understand what veterans need.

The VA will pick five different types of facilities for the pilot, including rural areas and under-resourced locations, and will work with existing community networks rather than starting from scratch. The government will track how well the referrals work, how quickly providers respond, and whether veterans actually get the help they need. Within three years, the VA must report to Congress on what services veterans are using and what gaps remain, and within four years, an independent audit will evaluate whether the platform actually improves veterans' health and access to care, with recommendations for making it better.