Kitsap County Veterans Assistance Fund and Veteran Service Officer

The Veterans Assistance Fund is Kitsap County's programme under chapter 73.08 RCW (see the Washington entry on county veterans' assistance funds), administered by the Department of Human Services and guided by the Veterans Advisory Board of 17 veterans. Kitsap Community Resources (KCR) takes applications and pays the help under contract; the Northwest Justice Project gives civil legal help paid from the fund. What it pays, under the Policies and Procedures Manual approved by Resolution 056-2025 on March 24, 2025. Checks go to the landlord, utility or vendor, never to the veteran, and only once other resources are exhausted: rent, deposits and first and last month's rent; temporary lodging when no shelter bed is free; heat, power, water and basic phone after working out a utility payment plan; food after the food banks; a monthly bus pass, or a ticket home to family; medical, dental and prescription co-pays and deductibles for a veteran enrolled in VA or other coverage; auto repair, appliances, work clothing, certification and licence fees, delinquent union dues that secure a job, up to four months of clean and sober housing, and hygiene items. Caps. Up to $3,500 of help in any twelve months, with $500 more in extraordinary cases. Eviction relief and prevention up to $5,000 or two months' rent, whichever is less, in twelve months, for a veteran with a plan to stay housed. Burial or cremation up to $1,500 beyond the other caps (the State floor is $300). No one may receive direct help more than two years running, and a second year needs a financial training course first, unless the coordinator waives it for unforeseen hardship. Who, under the Manual. Net household income over the last 90 days at or under 200% of the federal poverty level (for 2026, $31,920 a year for one person, $43,280 for two, $66,000 for four), with no more than $3,000 in cash and accounts; 60 days' residence in Kitsap County (KCR's own page says 90); and an unemployed veteran able to work must register with WorkSource and apply for unemployment benefits. A surviving spouse who has not remarried and children under 18, or 23 in full-time school, may apply. The discharge test is narrower than the statute. The Manual quotes RCW 73.08.005 but writes "honorable discharge" where the statute says "qualifying discharge", and treats a general discharge as an expansion the county may choose. A qualifying discharge under RCW 73.04.005, since chapter 146, Laws of 2024, already includes a general discharge, an other than honorable discharge where VA has found the veteran eligible for monetary benefits, and any discharge given solely for sexual orientation or gender identity. KCR accepts honorable and general discharges. A veteran with a VA-accepted other than honorable discharge who is refused should cite RCW 73.04.005 on appeal. Appeals. A denial comes in writing from KCR with its reasons. If KCR's own grievance process, which answers within 10 days, does not resolve it, write to the Veterans Assistance Program Coordinator, Kitsap County Human Services, 614 Division Street, MS-23, Port Orchard 98366; the coordinator acknowledges within three business days and decides within 30 days. How to apply. Apply online through KCR or through a veterans service organization; KCR's Veterans Fund Administrator calls back within two to three business days (KCR Veterans Assistance, 360-473-2034). At the Kitsap Veteran Resource Center, Olympic College building 11, the county's Veterans Fund coordinator sees veterans Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (360-337-4811), and the county Veteran Service Officer, who files VA disability claims at no cost, weekdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (360-337-4535). Homeless veterans are welcome. The county also holds Stand Downs each April and September.