Cerro Gordo County’s Emergency Assistance Program and the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund Route
The Cerro Gordo Veterans emergency assistance program 'provides assistance for Veterans with an Honorable or Under Honorable discharge' for basic needs - rent, utilities, food, toiletries and prescription medicine bills - to a county resident of at least sixty days who meets the income/asset guidelines and shows an emergency need that cannot be met by other means; the same office takes the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund applications for the state's own programme.
Also called: emergency assistance, rent, utilities, food, toiletries, prescription medicine, Honorable, Under Honorable, 60 days, income/asset guidelines, Iowa Veterans Trust Fund, 35A.8, Mason City, Mason City, Clear Lake, Rockwell, Swaledale, Thornton, Plymouth, Dougherty, Cartersville, Meservey, Clear Lake Lakeshore.
For: Veteran or service member, spouse, child, survivor.
The county's own programme. The Veteran Assistance page: "The Cerro Gordo Veterans emergency assistance program provides assistance for Veterans with an Honorable or Under Honorable discharge. The program helps with basic needs, including: Rent, Utilities, Food, Toiletries, Prescription medicine bills."
The eligibility: "Must be a Cerro Gordo County resident for at least 60 days with intent to remain in this county. Must meet income/asset guidelines. Must have an emergency need that cannot be met by other means or due to financial misconduct. Must provide all required documentation (see application for required documents)." To apply: "complete the following form and return it to our office at 220 N. Washington Ave. in Mason City."
The state's route beside it. "The State of Iowa has established a multi-million dollar fund to provide certain services to veterans. Beginning in December 2007, interest from this fund has been available to provide relief for Iowa veterans and their families." The page lists the trust fund's covered uses - "drugs; counseling and substance abuse services; vehicle repairs; housing repair; and transitional housing in an emergency. Trust fund expenditures are approved through the Iowa Veterans Commission. To request assistance from the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund, complete the following form and return it to our office." The commission's May 2026 minutes show the state account in practice - the "Other Services Account which is the Iowa State Grant" - and the county's own emergency money moving beside it.
The crisis line. "If you are in need of immediate assistance or having suicidal thoughts, please call this veteran crisis line at 1-800-273-8255 or visit the Veterans Crisis Line website to get connected with this 24/7 resource." (The line's number predates the 988 transition; dialing 988 and pressing 1 reaches it today.)
The county's money. The supervisors' minutes carry the department's budget reviews each winter ("Budget review with Veteran Affairs - General Assistance", January 21, 2026) and the commission's own invoices, so the county's emergency assistance is funded through the annual budget the board amends.
Thresholds
Thresholds for Cerro Gordo County’s Emergency Assistance Program and the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund Route
Gate
Rule
Honorable or Under Honorable discharge, sixty days in the county
The county’s own test: an honorable or under-honorable discharge, sixty days of county residency with intent to remain, income/asset guidelines and an emergency need other means cannot meet.
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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.