New Berks County program to help veterans in need
Donations now being sought
Berks County has a new program aimed at helping veterans who are struggling financially, and it is now seeking donations.
The Berks County Veterans Temporary Assistance program is designed to provide up to $500 per year to veterans who have sudden economic hardships, according to county Veterans Affairs Director Ken Lebron.
Local veterans are among those who were hit financially by the COVID pandemic, and that is the type of emergent need the program is going to assist with, county officials said.
An unexpected car repair, a need for a bus pass, or a utility bill that suddenly has become unaffordable are other examples of potentially eligible expenses, Lebron said.
The program will also give citizens a chance to donate as a way to say thank you and support local service members who have fallen on hard times, he said.
“The money that is donated in Berks County will stay in Berks County,” Lebron said.
Veterans will be able to request funds that can be used for necessities such as shelter, utilities, transportation and food.
To qualify, the veteran must have experienced an event outside of their control within the past year that resulted in a sudden and unexpected loss of income, an increase in expenses or both. They must also demonstrate financial need by showing that their monthly expenses meet or exceed their gross household income.
Lebron and deputy director Jason G. Mattise-Nauman have been developing the program for the last two years, and the county controller’s office will oversee it.
The maximum a veteran can receive in a calendar year of $500 was set so the program can help as many vets as possible, Lebron said.
The county veterans office often meets with vets who are having trouble financially,
and the staff will refer them to programs that can help, but Lebron and Mattise-Nauman wanted to also be able to assist those who aren’t eligible for aid from those entities, Lebron said.
The staff will also get offers of flowers, lunches, or even money from veterans and their families thankful for their help, but now the staff can offer the temporary assistance program as a way for them to act on that generosity, he said.
Bequests as part of a will or trust are also welcome, he said.
“The more donations we get, the more veterans we can help get back on track,” he said.
“We are grateful to our veterans for their service and sacrifice,” Commissioner Michael Rivera said in a press release. “This is a great opportunity to help them in their time of need.”
“As county officials, we constantly balance money spent within our budgets to keep taxes down and come up with creative ways to help our constituents,” County Controller Sandy Graffius said. “Ken Lebron has created a way for local citizens to help our veterans outside our budget constraints.”