Wayne County Soldiers and Sailors Relief: Emergency Help for Wartime Veterans

Wayne County runs the relief fund every Michigan county must levy under MCL 35.21 (see the Michigan entry on county veterans relief) through the Veterans Services division of its Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services. The county calls it the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Fund and its Veteran Financial Hardship Services programme. What it can help with, as the county lists it: food, furniture, moving expenses, utilities, rent, mortgage, property taxes, emergency home repairs, car repairs, car payments and burial. Each case is judged on need, and the counsellor decides whether the application goes to this fund or to the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund. What to bring. A DD-214, a Michigan photo ID, and proof of income and expenses for the past 30 days, with the hardship notice that applies: a utility shut-off notice, an eviction notice with the court judgment, or a notice that the property is being taken for delinquent taxes. Who qualifies, by the county's page. A wartime veteran with service in the Persian Gulf period (from August 2, 1990), Vietnam (February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975), Korea (June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955) or World War II (December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946), with World War I and Russian service also recognized, or a veteran awarded an expeditionary medal. The programme page asks for an honorable discharge and indigence, and serves the veteran's spouse and dependent children. The ordinance is wider. Wayne County Code chapter 175 (Ordinance 98-798, 1998) makes eligible a veteran "discharged under honorable conditions", so a general discharge qualifies, and names the Merchant Marine; it adds the expeditions between the world wars, Lebanon, Grenada and Panama. It counts a person as a county resident with a current Wayne County mailing address or 30 days' residence, homeless shelters included, and as indigent with a valid Medicaid card or while living in a shelter. A veteran turned away for a general discharge, or for lack of a fixed address, should cite chapter 175. MCL 35.21 itself funds relief for "honorably discharged" veterans, so the county is choosing to go further. A contradiction to know about. The department's front page says it does not help with VA disability claims, while its programmes page lists Veteran Support Services that file VA compensation and disability applications. Ask for a claims appointment rather than relying on the first page. Where. 400 Monroe Street, Suite 405, Detroit, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Radcliff Community Center, 1751 Radcliff Street, Garden City; phone 313-224-5045 or 313-506-0302.