This week CSAC wrote a
letter to the Legislature advocating for nearly doubling
funding for County Veterans Services Offices (CVSO) from $5.6
million to $11 million. CVSOs are often the initial contact in
the community for veterans who require assistance in determining
federal, state, and local benefits available to them and their
dependents. This budget increase could be used to expand the
critical services of CVSOs by employing new Veterans Service
Representatives at contact points, such as VA hospitals, and
increasing outreach to the nearly 11,000 veterans in the state
experiencing homelessness.
In total, California’s veterans are missing out on an estimated
$1.3 billion a year in federal benefits based on comparison with
other states. This means an estimated 75,000 veterans and their
families are not getting the benefits to which they are entitled.
CVSOs work to bridge this gap by helping with claims, advocacy,
and assistance with information regarding medical, pension and
educational benefits, home loans, and more.
Connecting veterans to the appropriate federal VA services,
treatment, and cash benefits can often be the difference between
being housed and being on the streets. The COVID-19 pandemic has
only amplified this need. Counties work hard every day to combat
this crisis with an approach that meets veterans where they’re
located and need appropriate funding levels to do so.
