Western Washington is home to an extensive array of military facilities for active-duty Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard members. Many service members get introduced to the Pacific Northwest’s charms while stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Naval Station Everett, Coast Guard Base Seattle, Naval Base Kitsap, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and others. More than a few return to this area after discharge to enjoy the natural beauty this area has to offer.
The Veterans’ Relief Fund (VRF), initially called the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Fund, was established in the late 1800s by Washington State to assist indigent veterans and their families. The VRF continues to provide emergency assistance and referrals for indigent veterans living in Lewis County. The VRF is funded through property taxes collected in Lewis County per Revised Code of Washington (RCW 73.08.080). Each county in Washington administers its own VRF.
An eight-member Veterans’ Advisory Board meets monthly to advise the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on the needs of local indigent veterans, the resources available, and programs that could benefit these veterans and their families. Board members must be veterans, are appointed by the BOCC, and may serve up to three two-year terms.
Veterans in need who qualify for assistance through the VRF may receive vouchers for food or gas. Other assistance may be provided by the VRF for utility or rent payments and funeral expenses. Veterans may also receive help with transportation to Veteran Affairs appointments. At no time does a veteran receive cash through this program. To be eligible, someone must fall under the definition of a veteran, have been honorably discharged, have income that falls below 200 percent of the federal poverty level and live in Lewis County. Complete application and eligibility guidelines are online at: lewiscountywa.gov/publichealth/veterans-services.
Referrals are often made to veterans who may not be familiar with resources for other forms of assistance not covered by the VRF. Some of these resources are:
• Centralia Food Bank: centralia.salvationarmy.org/
• Chehalis Food Bank: greaterchehalisfoodbank.org/
• Love INC: www.loveincoflewiscounty.org/
• Community Action Council: www.caclmt.org/
• Catholic Community Services: ccsww.org/
• VA Crisis Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 or online chat VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat
As a veteran myself, I get great satisfaction out of working for a program that exists solely to improve veterans’ lives. In any given year, we help several hundred veterans and their families transition to better circumstances right here in our own community. As an example, we had a family come in that needed assistance with their rent and were in the process of fighting an eviction notice. I was able to get the landlord to agree to stop the eviction process while we worked on a solution. Doing this prevented the family with children from being put out on the street and becoming part of our homeless population in Lewis County.
For more information call Heidi Palmer at 360-740-1417, email Heidi.Palmer@lewiscountywa.gov, or go to lewiscountywa.gov/publichealth/veterans-services.
