Veterans Relief Fund

The Veterans Advisory Board is held the first Wednesday of each month at 11:00 am in the Lower Level BOCC Room of the Lewis County Historic Courthouse. This is an open meeting and the public is welcome.

Veterans or spouses of veterans may be eligible for assistance through the Veterans Relief Fund. Possible help includes:

• Funeral Expenses
• Utilities
• Rent/Housing
• Emergency Medical Expenses
• Food Vouchers
• Gas Vouchers

Qualifying applicants may receive:

• Funeral assistance up to $1,000
• Rent/Housing assistance up to $1,000 or 75% of rent, whichever is lower
• Up to $500 (no money is given to the applicant) in assistance for categories other than funeral expenses or housing.

To apply for veterans' benefit services, please complete an application and gather all of the acceptable documentation:

• DD214 (Under honorable discharges only)
• Washington State Driver's License or Picture ID
• Proof of Washington residence for one year
• Spouse's ID or Marriage Certificate
• Birth certificate for all dependents
• Proof of income (check stub or bank statement) OR Lack of income (if you have no income you will need to prove it, example: income tax return/bank statement). Please see income eligibility table below.
• Original bill to be paid for utilities
• Original bill for funeral expenses
• Rent - must have a W-9 (provided by the County upon request) and a copy of the rental agreement, signed by the landlord. A relative of the veteran does not qualify as a bona fide landlord.

Call the Veterans' Benefits Specialist, 360-740-1417, to schedule an appointment to submit your application or you may bring in your application 9am-3pm Monday through Thursday. All applications are reviewed and determination is made on a case by case basis.

Income Eligibility Table

The U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines table is used to determine eligibility for those with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level; if you do not fall within these guidelines, you are not eligible for the program but may be eligible for other benefits.

2024 Detailed Guidelines Table

For questions call George Dodd at 360-740-1417 or 1-800-562-6130.

Veterans Affairs Suicide Hotline - Suicide Prevention and Support | WDVA

Homeless Veterans Hotline - National Call Center for Homeless Veterans - VA Homeless Programs

Values listed were last updated on 2/13/25.