Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Emergency Grant Program offers help – The Oakland Press

Archive photo. (Stephen Frye / MediaNewsGroup)

The Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Emergency Grant Program provides assistance to veterans with temporary or short-term financial emergencies.

The law creating the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund (MVTF) was passed in 1946 and funded by $50 million in post-World War II reserve funds. Since then, the MVTF has helped veterans from all eras of war handle unexpected expenses, from utility bills to home repairs to mortgage assistance, and get back on their feet financially.

The Emergency Grant Program is designed to help veterans overcome an unforeseen situation that results in a temporary or short-term financial emergency or hardship that can be addressed by a grant and for which the applicant can demonstrate the ability to cover future expenses.

Starting in December 2021, peacetime veterans age 65 and older will be eligible to receive emergency assistance through the MVTF’s 65+ Peacetime Program. The program allows veterans who served in peacetime, completed at least 180 days of service, and were discharged under honorable conditions to apply for emergency assistance. A person can apply any time during the year they turn 65.

To apply for emergency funds from the MVTF, veterans should contact the MVTF county committee that serves the county in which they reside or complete and submit an emergency assistance form at: www.michigan.gov/mvaa/forms/emergency-assistance-form.

Requests for assistance are reviewed and adjudicated by committees appointed by the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Board of Trustees. Appeals and reviews are presented to the Board of Trustees for consideration at its monthly meeting. The seven-member Board of Trustees is appointed by the Governor and has constitutional authority over Emergency Grant Program spending and policies.

VTF has partnered with GreenPath Financial Wellness Inc., a nonprofit financial counseling organization, to provide financial counseling services to Michigan veterans. The service can help veterans who are struggling to manage their finances or overcome crippling debt. The goal is to help veterans achieve financial stability.

Veterans interested in free financial counseling can call the Michigan Veterans Resource Service Center at 1-800-MICH-VET (642-4838).

Holistic financial counseling consists of a one-on-one session, typically lasting one hour, that can be conducted over the phone or in a GreenPath branch. Each veteran receives a personalized budget and financial action plan.

Additional free financial counseling for veterans includes:

• Housing counseling, where tenants and homeowners learn how to avoid arrears and explore options for avoiding foreclosures and evictions.

• Credit report review to help veterans understand credit reports and credit scoring and manage their credit score.

• Financial wellness tools, including webinars, a digital education course, an online support community, and a digital journaling tool.

For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/mvaa/quality-of-life/emergency-assistance/panel-content.