CU-CitizenAccess.org (https://www.cu-citizenaccess.org/)
Due to a tight budget, Champaign County Veterans Assistance Commission has had to turn away 138 veterans so far this year requesting financial help.
Last year they turned away 151 veterans.
The organization receives funding from Champaign County. They provide temporary financial assistance to veterans, including helping with mortgage or rent payments, utility payments, and food and family essentials.
As of this fall, they’ve spent about $69,750 of the budget, Superintendent Brad Gould said.
There are over 9,000 veterans in Champaign County , according to the latest figure from U.S. Census Bureau.
The low budget has been a problem for several years. In 2014, the commission had to turn away 177 veterans.
According to the commission annual report, 52 percent of the budget goes towards helping veterans with their rent, 6 percent towards helping with mortgage and 42 percent goes towards helping with utilities.
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