The Champaign County Veterans Assistance Commission (Cheatsheet post with additional information here) once again had to turn away some veterans seeking assistance due to a need for additional funding. From CU-CitizenAccess.org, "a community online news and information project devoted to investigative and enterprise coverage of social, justice and economic issues in east central Illinois.":
Veterans Assistance Commission can’t meet demand for helpFull article here with a lot more additional information.
Due to a tight budget, Champaign County Veterans Assistance Commission has had to turn away 138 veterans so far this year requesting financial help.
Last year they turned away 151 veterans.
The organization receives funding from Champaign County. They provide temporary financial assistance to veterans, including helping with mortgage or rent payments, utility payments, and food and family essentials.
The commission receives a budget of $80,000 each year from Champaign County. However, they recently received a $5,000 donation from veteran’s group called Hometown Heroes...
According to the commission annual report, 52 percent of the budget goes towards helping veterans with their rent, 6 percent towards helping with mortgage and 42 percent goes towards helping with utilities.
Gould said that he asks Champaign County every year for more money, but is unable to get it. However, he said he understands that the county also has a tight budget...
The commission offers other forms of aid as well. They have their own food pantry, where they can give bags of food to people who need it. The commission website also states that they provide advocacy, and information, referral and location of discharge documents.
They also can provide passes for bus service, Gould said.
Maggio said that veterans can ask for assistance for however long they need it for.
In order to receive the services from the commission, however, veterans have to be eligible. According to Section 2 of the Military Veteran’s Assistance Act, a person must have served in the Armed Forces of the U.S., and must have left on an honorable discharge.
In other County government news, the Deputy Executive position (voted on this week at the County Board meeting) looks like it will be filled by the head of another local community organization. From the News-Gazette:
Courage Connection director chosen as Champaign County deputy adminMore at the full article here.
Isak Griffiths, the executive director of Champaign-based Courage Connection, is leaving that agency next month to fill the newly created deputy director of administration position for Champaign County.
County Executive Darlene Kloeppel said Griffiths will begin her new job Jan. 22.
Griffiths will support her office and primarily be responsible for personnel and human-resources development, Kloeppel said...
Griffiths is an Air Force veteran with both a bachelor's degree and MBA from the University of Illinois. Before coming to Courage Connection, she managed her own leadership development business, facilitated Dale Carnegie training programs and developed systems, programs and training courses in the library systems and telecommunications industries, according to the agency.
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