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The Department of Veterans Affairs has taken two important steps to help veterans during the COVID pandemic: financial aid and housing for the homeless. It is offering debt relief and emergency housing.
Debt Relief: The VA is extending financial debt relief through the end of the year. That’s going to be a big help to many of us who are struggling. If you are making payments, repayment is going to be more flexible. One step is that the VA is suspending the collection action or extending payment terms on existing debts.
If you have benefit debts, call the VA Debt Management Center at 1-800-827-0648 and ask for help.
If you have health care debts, call the Health Resource Center at 1-866-400-1238. To learn more, go online to www.pay.gov and click on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) alert.
Emergency Housing: The VA is kicking in an additional $400 million of COVID relief funding to expand its response to veterans who are either already homeless or about to become homeless. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) gave $17.2 billion to the VA, which initially allotted $700 million to homelessness.
The additional $400 million will go a long way to preventing veteran homelessness and providing emergency housing as part of the Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program. The idea, of course, is to provide housing that will allow physical safety and social distancing.
In addition, the VA is providing $88 million for the Grant and Per Diem Program (GPD) and $10 million for the Health Care for Homeless Veterans Program. The GPD Program utilizes eligible civilian organization to provide transitional housing for those who are already homeless or who are in danger of it.
If you and your family need permanent housing, go online to www.va.gov/homeless/hud-vash.asp. This HUD/VA collaboration provides rental assistance vouchers if you’re eligible for VA health care. Included can be case managers for health care, mental health and substance-use counseling. This is one of VA’s largest programs for homelessness.
The VA isn’t perfect, but it’s trying. Use its services because you earned them.
© 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.
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