Whitman County Veterans’ Relief Fund: up to $4,000 a Year for Rent, Utilities, Food, Motel Stays, Vehicle Repair and Burial

What it is. "The purpose of the Whitman County Veterans' Relief Fund ... is to provide for the relief of indigent veterans, their families, and the families of deceased indigent veterans as defined in RCW 41.04.005 and 41.04.007." It is "generated from a tax levied by the Whitman County Board of County Commissioners", and the Veterans' Advisory Board, set up on May 5, 2008 by Resolution 068153 under RCW 73.08, advises the Commissioners. "There is no automatic annual entitlement to assistance and the provision of assistance is subject to the availability of funds." Who qualifies. A veteran, or a family member under RCW 73.08.005 of a veteran; Since chapter 146, Laws of 2024, RCW 73.08.005 defines a veteran by a qualifying discharge under RCW 73.04.005: honorable, general under honorable conditions, other than honorable with VA documentation of monetary benefits, or any characterization where the discharge was solely for sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Residence in Washington for at least six months and in Whitman County for at least 60 days immediately before ("Post office boxes cannot be used to establish residency"); indigent, "receiving an annual income, after taxes, of up to one hundred fifty percent or less of the current federally established poverty level", with the last 60 days' income annualized and VA compensation and pension counted as income. What it pays. "Individual Assistance - $4,000 per year"; "Burial costs - $1,000 per occurrence"; and up to $500 a year to a veterans' post's hall rent or running costs for posts that help applicants. Within the $4,000: past-due rent, first and last month's rent, past-due mortgage or non-refundable deposits, paid to the landlord or lender; motel stays in the county up to 30 days (the officer may pay for one or two rooms over a weekend in an emergency); power, water, garbage, propane and wood; food and hygiene items; clothing; bus passes within the county; and "Vehicle Repair: Up to $4,000 annually". Other requests are weighed case by case. A household that drew on the fund two calendar years running must wait a year, and help from another Washington county's fund in the past 12 months reduces the limit. How to apply. The applicant completes the packet (the assessment form, the Requisition on Veteran's Assistance Fund, a W-9 and payment request, and a direct payment form if needed) "with assistance from the local Post Service Officer (PSO) or the Whitman County Veteran Service officer (VSO)"; applications are valid for 90 days. Requests over the limit or unusual cases go to the Advisory Board, and the Board of County Commissioners approves every payment (RCW 73.08.010); a denied applicant may ask the Board to review it.