Shiawassee County Veterans Relief Fund and Peacetime Veterans Fund

Every Michigan county must keep a veterans relief fund under MCL 35.21; see the Michigan entry. Shiawassee's committee also keeps a Peacetime Veterans Fund (PTVF) of its own, for veterans whose service falls outside the wartime periods. Who. For the Veterans Relief Fund: a veteran discharged under honourable or general conditions with at least 90 days of active service and a day in a listed war period (or a campaign medal), or less if discharged for a service injury; the legal dependants or unremarried widow(er) of such a veteran; or the dependants of someone on active duty. "For Peacetime service, service member must have served for 24 months of Peacetime service. Service for purposes of TRAINING, are not eligible." The household must live in the county and have income "below the current VA's National Income Thresholds" (the VA's geographic thresholds for Priority Group 8 are the guide). "National Guard and Reserve members are not eligible for VRF assistance unless they have a DD 214 showing federal activation." What counts. An "emergent need", "a situation or event in the requestor's life, which needs to be addressed in 72 hours or less", that a grant will resolve: "The key factor in determining whether or not a grant is approved is the ability of the applicant to manage the obligation for which aid is requested after a grant is made." Bring proof of the emergency (a shut-off, foreclosure, eviction or repossession notice, a fire, lost work), the bills, and a statement of how future obligations will be met; "Incomplete applications will not be submitted to the committee for review." The Director may approve small amounts and reports them to the committee; larger ones go to the committee, which meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 3 p.m., or to a special meeting. What it paid this year. The committee's minutes from October 2025 to August 2026 approve roofs (up to $24,172), furnaces and boilers (up to $10,500), windows and siding, mortgage and rent arrears, utility shut-off notices, vehicle repairs and up to $5,000 towards a vehicle, with food vouchers of $300 to $400 and $50 gas cards; one large grant in January 2026 came with the condition that the veteran have financial counselling. The State fund. The office also takes Michigan Veterans Trust Fund applications (wartime service of 180 days, Michigan residence); the county committee approves them before they go to the State, "3 - 5 business days". Ask Paula Rock, 989-743-2346.