News

Vets stung by economy turn to city halls for help

By Sabrina Cardin
Staff writer
Published: April 1, 2009

Amesbury Veterans Agent Kristin LaRue sees many older veterans who are in desperate need. Some months, many are deciding which bills they can and can't pay or which medications they may need to go without.

"Many veterans don't come out and say what their problems are, but for the few that do, you can tell there is a lot going on under the surface," LaRue said.

In Newburyport, Veterans Agent Kevin Hunt is seeing the same problems.

"We have veterans coming in who were once gainfully employed and now are on the brink of being homeless," Hunt said.

Unemployment and the sour economy has brought a new challenge to the doorsteps of local city halls: aging veterans who are struggling with health care costs and day-to-day expenses.

To help field an increase in need, councilors in Amesbury and Newburyport are being forced to transfer money to help pay for Veterans Affairs over-expenditures.

Amesbury's veterans service budget went $80,000 over, and on Monday night, Newburyport's City Council sent a $15,000 fund transfer for veterans benefits to the Finance Committee — doubling what was originally budgeted.

Although the state will refund 75 percent of veterans energy and benefit assistance costs in the 2010 budget, each town is left spending more than estimated in an already tight 2009 budget year.

As the economy worsens and veterans' needs increase, LaRue and Hunt think next year may bring a similar story.

"It's really hard to predict with the economy being as unstable as it is," LaRue said. "I would hope I don't have to request more money, but we have to expand ourselves to accommodate the veterans who are eligible."

Yearly, the communities help cover 25 percent of veterans energy and benefit assistance. In Amesbury, the 2009 Veterans Expenses budget totaled $144,560. Of that budget, $24,000 covered energy assistance, which includes heat, and $73,920 covered benefit assistance. By mid-year, Amesbury had spent 68.8 percent of the total budget.

LaRue's workload has nearly doubled in the year she has worked in Amesbury. Between 30 to 35 veterans are currently receiving help from the town, most of whom are elderly.

"Things really began to pick up in December and January. I believe it was a combination of the brutal winter and the economy," LaRue said. "Every day, people are coming in whether they are eligible or not."

In Newburyport, Hunt said the busier the better. The city has more than 1,000 veterans. Hunt said between 10 and 20 veterans walk through his door daily. Many are older veterans claiming benefits they didn't know were available.

The small amount of money Veteran Services offers makes all the difference.

"Veterans are a network and speak to each other, and that has helped more people come in," Hunt said. "What we offer is not a large amount, but for people living on a small income, it can be a large amount."

Because of the high unemployment rate, temporary health care coverage and job assistance issues have become a major part of Hunt's day.

Younger returning veterans are a smaller percentage of the agents' daily tasks. In Amesbury, LaRue said many need employment assistance, and in Newburyport, younger veterans are seeking temporary assistance.

"If they are younger, it's usually temporary to get them on their feet," Hunt said. "I think of myself as someone that gets everyone aimed in the right direction."

In many instances, the agents are a jumping-off point for veterans, and they direct them to subsequent services. As Newburyport and Amesbury put together their 2010 budgets, the increase in veterans services is quickly becoming one of the many factors to consider.

"It's fair to say the economy has struck more people than a good economy; it's definitely a contributing factor," Hunt said.