Walla Walla County Veterans' Relief Fund

The fund is Walla Walla County's programme under chapter 73.08 RCW (see the Washington entry on county veterans' assistance funds). It is paid from a property tax levy shown on tax statements as SSF (Soldiers and Sailors); the Commissioners kept the 2026 rate at $0.015599 per thousand dollars of assessed value (Resolution 25 234, November 24, 2025), and the Department says the fund brings in about $85,000 to $94,000 a year. The Department of Community Health administers it with the advice of the Veterans' Relief Advisory Board, under the Veterans' Relief Program Guidelines revised February 10, 2026 and adopted by the Commissioners on April 6, 2026 (Resolution 26 066). Who. A veteran as RCW 73.08.005(5) defines it "as it exists or is hereafter amended", which takes any qualifying discharge under RCW 73.04.005, plus a current member "honorably serving in the armed forces reserve or national guard who has served for at least one hundred eighty (180) days". The advisory board recorded on February 5, 2026 that a veteran service-connected at 0% counts, and on March 5, 2026 that where a DD-214 and a VA character of discharge letter disagree, the VA letter prevails; a veteran with several periods of service and different discharges is decided case by case (June 4, 2026). Family members are the spouse or domestic partner, surviving spouse or partner, and dependent children of a living or deceased veteran, or of a service member killed in the line of duty. The applicant must have lived in Walla Walla County for 60 days, unless discharged in the last 90 days and moved here in that time, or showing intent to settle here through SSVF, HUD-VASH or CORD. The applicant must be indigent in one of three ways: on public assistance (TANF, aged, blind or disabled assistance, SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, poverty-related veterans' benefits and others); "an annual income, after taxes, of up to two hundred and fifty (250%) or less of the current federally established poverty level with review every six months"; or unable to pay reasonable costs for shelter, food, utilities and transportation. The 250% line was raised from 200% in the 2026 revision (the advisory board approved 225% on February 5, 2026 and 250% by email on February 19); the Department's Do You Qualify page still says 200%. The statute's default is 150%, which a county may raise. What it pays. Rent and housing deposits to avoid eviction or obtain housing (not for veterans already on housing vouchers, though since July 2, 2026 the board takes waiver requests case by case for back rent after an illness); hotel shelter one to three nights at a time, up to 14 days, where no emergency shelter can take the veteran; storage fees for the homeless or recently evicted; background checks and housing application fees up to $200 a year; utility deposits and shut-off notices; food vouchers when food banks cannot be used, one a month, sized by the USDA food plan; work and medical transport, including licence and registration fees, up to six months of insurance, fuel vouchers up to $50 a month, bus tickets, a bicycle up to $250 a year, and vehicle repairs up to $1,500 a year; tools, clothing, testing fees and a phone (one a year) for work or education; burial of an indigent veteran (up to $1,000) or family member (up to $500); dental care up to $3,000 in a lifetime, for veterans only, with a dentist's referral, outside the disbursement limit; and other health and welfare costs. Fines and penalties are excluded. The annual disbursement limit is adjusted each February by the consumer price index, with $200 more a year for each additional dependant; the guidelines do not print the figure, so ask. The Department's Support and Services page is older than the 2026 guidelines: it gives a $2,000 dental cap and one month of insurance. How. Apply with a County Veteran Service Officer (509-524-2675), who completes the application with you; bring a DD-214 or other proof of service, picture identification, proof of 60 days' residence, and proof of income, expenses and the emergency. Payments are vouchers to vendors. Veterans may apply as often as needed within the limits. Appeals. A denied applicant gets an explanation and help with an appeal: in writing to the Department within 15 days, decided within five business days; then to the advisory board's Appeal Committee within ten working days, decided within five business days. The advisory board meets on the first Thursday of the month, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., at the Vet Center, 1104 W Poplar Street, and online; its minutes are posted on the Department's site.