Franklin County Veterans Assistance Fund and the county policy (Resolution 2025-0153)

The programme. Every Washington county must run a veterans assistance programme under RCW 73.08; the Washington entry explains the statute. Franklin County's is Human Services' Veterans Assistance Fund, Fund 187, paid for by the county's own veterans' assistance levy - the Board's December 1, 2025 budget discussion carries the "2026 Veteran's Assistance Levy" line. The policy. The Board adopted Resolution 2025-0153, "Update to Franklin County Veterans Assistance Fund policies and procedures", on May 21, 2025, after review with the county's Veterans Advisory Board (the resolution's staff report names the board). What the policy, read whole by OCR, says: - Use of funds: rental and deposit assistance, housing application fees and background checks, "Up to 1 week of motel voucher assistance for homeless Vets. Human Services staff may approve at 1-week intervals not to exceed 6 weeks", gas vouchers and Ben Franklin Transit bus passes, utility assistance, food assistance, "Burial Expenses not to exceed $2500.00", safety equipment required by an employer, "Dental Assistance - once in a lifetime assistance capped at no more than $2,000.00", and childcare. - Limits: "Up to $2,000.00 per applicant in a twelve-month period and an additional $200.00 per dependent living in the household. In extreme cases of hardship, the Board of Commissioners may exceed the applicable limit ... based on a Waiver Request"; burial expenses under RCW 73.08.070 to $2,500 for a deceased indigent veteran and the family members the policy defines. - Eligibility: a veteran under RCW 73.08.005(5) with documentation of service "typically ... a veteran's DD-214, VA Statement of Service, or if discharged prior to 1950, a certificate of discharge"; family members under 73.08.005(2) (spouse, domestic partner, surviving spouse or partner, dependent children); residency "in Franklin County for at least 90 days", with an exception for a veteran discharged in the last 90 days who moved in during that period; indigence defined as "income at or below 150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines or is food stamp eligible", with a one-time income waiver for a homeless veteran holding a HUD VASH voucher. Human Services may ask the Board to waive the income guidelines, the limits or the residency. - Administration: the fund is administered by Human Services; registered service organizations (a chapter, camp, post or branch in Franklin County) may assist applicants; administrative costs are capped at eight percent of the fund's annual budget (RCW 73.08.080); a denied applicant complains in writing to Human Services (15 days to answer) and appeals to the Board of Commissioners. How. Apply through Franklin County Human Services; the service organizations registered with Human Services take applications too. The Veteran Service Officer's entry below is the office the fund pays for.