Veterans

“We’d like to be a heck of a lot busier,” Frohrip said. “We want veterans to not hesitate to call, because if we can help in any way, that’s going to be to the betterment of that person.”

With people losing jobs as a result of the global pandemic, the VRC as a whole has seen an increased number of veterans facing a sudden loss of income, which puts them at greater risk of becoming homeless.

“Now that this economic downturn is kind of occurring, they’re telling us they’re being furloughed; they’re telling us they’re being laid off. I do see an uptick in that,” Frohrip said.

“But like I said, it’s starting out slow. This will go on, I think we’ll gather more momentum as April comes in. What we’re anticipating is that we’ll see an influx

of those people — people who have been stably housed right up until now. They realize they can’t pay April or May’s rent … June’s rent, July’s rent. I fully expect to see those veterans in our office.”

Much of these services are offered through the VRC’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families program through the U.S. Department of Veterans affairs.

It is a way for the VRC to give veterans temporary financial assistance as they navigate housing challenges, whether it be paying a first month’s rent, a bridge payment to get through a sudden loss of income, or paying utility bills.

“The whole idea of that program is housing stability,” said Joe Millsap, the VRC communications director. “So it’s not only getting vets off the street and into stable housing, but vets who are housed and a lot of times have been housed for a long time, but

then something happens in their life. They have a medical issue or it’s something like this, like the coronavirus, and suddenly they can’t pay rent, or they’re having trouble paying utility bills or they are having childcare issues.”

There are three qualifiers for the program: a person must be a veteran or a family member’s head of the household or spouse of the head of the household, is a veteran. Household income cannot exceed 50 percent of the area’s median income, as defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The veteran must also be in risk of becoming homeless; is currently homeless and at risk to remain homeless; or has become homeless after leaving permanent housing within the 90 days, for the purpose of seeking other hoursing.

However, Millsap also emphasized that other grants and monetary donations

may be available to assist veterans.

“We always encourage vets and their families to call or email us even if they don’t think they’re eligible,” Millsap said.

Frohrip said an important component of their work is for case managers to meet with veterans weekly in a face- to-face setting to develop a plan and connect them to resources in the community. Currently, as more veterans face financial hardships between food and shelter, Frohrip gave the example of referring veterans to local food banks

“People want to pay their rent, but they know they have to put food on the table,” Frohrip said. “So in that case, we’re referring them to Butte County Food Bank. We’re going to all the areas that we know have food banks or food closets. So we have a referral source there.”

In the meantime, much

of the VRC’s staff has moved to working remotely. Chico’s main office line at 8092831 is currently being forwarded to each staff member’s cell phone, allowing veterans to reach staff without coming into the office.

In-person meetings at the office, located at 110 Amber Grove Drive, are still happening on an “as-needed basis,” Frohrip said.

“We just know on the horizon it’s going to become crazier, so we’re kind of just taking a breath and getting ourselves used to this environment of working remotely right now,” Frohrip said. “So when the influx does happen, it will be a smooth uptick to that. Because we know it’s coming.”

The duration of the shelter-in-place and the economic fallout from it is unknown, making this situation unique for the VRC. But as time goes on, the agency can only assume that more veterans will be affected in some form.

To prepare for that prospect, the VRC is seeking grant opportunities, monetary and specific food item donations, either by contacting Millsap directly at jmillsap@vetsresource.org or making a donation at www.vetsresource.org.

“We’re not worried that we’re going to run into a wall where we start having to turn clients down, but we’re doing everything we can right now just to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Millsap said.

“It’s definitely unprecedented,” Millsap said. “I think one aspect of it that makes this situation unique is the duration of it. Already, but then on top of it just not knowing how long this is going to go. And the longer it goes, you just got to do the math and assume that’s going to continue to impact more and more people, vets and non-vets alike.”