Veterans Emergency Aid Exceeded Budget by 53% in Previous Year

July 17, 2024 TruthUSA

A federal program providing emergency relief to destitute veterans and their families exceeded its budget by 53 percent last year, based on a government briefing note.

Since its launch in April 2018, the Veterans Emergency Fund (VEF) had an annual funding of $1 million. However, in 2023, the actual payout rose to $1.53 million, as reported in the May 8 briefing note obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter.

The demand for the VEF has consistently exceeded 1 million annually since its inception, with a significant increase last year from $1.06 million in 2022. The reasons for this surge were not specified in the briefing note.

To address the growing demand, Veterans Affairs Canada had to internally reallocate resources to the fund, as mentioned in the briefing note.

The Epoch Times reached out to Veterans Affairs for comment but has not received a response yet.

Records show that the Veterans Emergency Fund provided tax-free payments to 938 veterans and their family members 979 times in the 2023–24 fiscal year as of March 1, 2024. A total of $7 million has been distributed to veterans and their families between April 1, 2018, and March 31, 2023.

Decision-makers can approve up to $2,500 annually, or up to $10,000 in exceptional circumstances, per veteran or household within a fiscal year.

The fund focuses on essential needs like food, shelter, clothing, and uninsured one-time medical or dental expenses to prevent crises that could endanger health and well-being. Applicants do not need to access other funds or service programs before applying.

A 2021 audit of the program shows that since its start, a total of 1,601 unique clients have been approved for VEF funding. Out of them, 350 have sought additional emergency support from Veterans Affairs.

“I can use the VEF to provide a Veteran a hotel room on a night where it is -40 and all the shelters are full,” stated a department staff member in the report, Evaluation of The Veterans Emergency Fund. “I could literally save their life. But the next day, the shelters are still full and there are no affordable housing options in my area.”

Payments are typically processed within two days, with most being directly paid to third parties via credit card or cheque. Depending on the situation, direct deposits or cheques may also be issued to the applicants.

When asked about the long-term assistance for VEF applicants, the briefing note mentioned that Veterans Affairs Canada refers veterans and their families to additional resources, including case management and rehabilitation services, financial counseling, and Military Family Resource Centers.

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