Cuyahoga County Veterans Service Commission: Emergency Financial Assistance

The Cuyahoga County Veterans Service Commission is the county's commission under Revised Code chapter 5901; see the Ohio entry. It describes itself as serving veterans since 1886 and has its main office at 3950 Chester Avenue, Cleveland (216-698-2600), open weekdays 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., closed 11:30 to 12:30 for lunch and on the second Friday of each month. Its accredited service officers also work at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center sites at Wade Park and Parma. What it pays for. Mortgage, rent and security deposits, food, clothing and shoes, personal hygiene items, utilities, dental care and medical transportation, with other needs considered case by case. Payment is by Auditor's voucher straight to the landlord, lender or vendor; no cash is given, and lost food cards are not replaced. For VA medical appointments the commission gives bus tickets on sight of the appointment list, and helps with paratransit. Who qualifies. The commission states the statute's test: a veteran discharged under honorable conditions whose active duty was for reasons other than training (or who was disabled on active duty for training), an active-duty member, or the spouse, surviving spouse, dependent parent, minor child or ward of either, who has lived in Cuyahoga County for three months, with an emergency or hardship the commission confirms. No rating is needed. The limits are the commission's own. Its guidelines allow no more than nine assists in 36 months, more only with documented extenuating circumstances and the approval of the director or the board. Applications are taken in person at the main office, first come, first served. What to bring. A valid Ohio driver's licence or state ID, which the packet says establishes county residence; the DD-214 (member copy 2 or 4); Social Security cards for the veteran and dependents; marriage, death and children's birth certificates as they apply; the household verification form; 60 days of activity on every bank and card account; and proof of all income and net worth. The statute asks only for a bona fide resident of three months and leaves the proof to the applicant, so a veteran without an Ohio ID, such as one who is homeless, should ask what else the commission will accept.