Materials / Items that you need at your 1st appointment...

Please have the following materials / information with you on your first visit to the Friends of Veteran's office when you're applying for assistance:

You will need a completed and signed Information Release Form;

Food Pantry...

The Friends of Veterans operates a fully stocked "Food Pantry" that offers a variety of basic foods, fruit juices & water, and cereals & snacks. The inventory in stock may change from time to time because our "Food Pantry" is dependent upon donations and contributions of donated food.

If you are homeless or in need of food to feed yourself and/or your family, please don't hesitate to call the phone number below to make an appointment to come in an pick up some supplies.

The FOV Food Pantry

Phone: (802) 296 - 8368

Applying for Financial Assistance

Eligibility...

Any person requesting FOV financial assistance must be able to prove that he/she was honorably discharged from a United States military branch of service. This is usually done by providing official discharge papers (DD 214).

In addition, any veteran who has received FOV financial assistance in the last two years will not be eligible. This is primarily due to the limited amount of available funds.

Caseworks’ Role...

FOV caseworkers review the veteran’s request and make an initial assessment of the veteran’s need based on the documentation that the veteran provides. This  initial assessment requires the presentation of a DD214 form; a signed release that authorizes the staff of the FOV to discuss the relevant aspects of the case with banks, utility companies, landlords, etc; and any written notification to the veteran that he/she is about to be evicted, foreclosed, or necessary utilities are about to be shut off.

Intake Process...

Once the initial assessment process is satisfactorily completed and the veteran’s request appears warranted, the caseworker(s) begin a formal intake process. This process normally takes from thirty to sixty minutes, and requires: formal documentation of the veteran’s need(s), employment status, income status, current expenses, and other applicable data. The intake process includes the creation of a computerized client file and needs assessment; which also provides the FOV with ongoing tracking data used to identify ongoing trends, client demographics, etc.

As part of the intake process, the FOV caseworker(s) will evaluate the veteran’s effort towards bringing a resolve to the issue at hand in light of any mitigating circumstances. If in review the caseworker(s) find that the veteran/applicant would benefit by being referred to other agencies / services, the veteran/applicant would be given that recommendation and asked to check back in with the FOV with the results.

Funding Approval Process...

Once the intake document is completed, the caseworker prepares a complete client file which includes the intake document, any supporting information, the DD214, etc. for Board of Directors’ review. The FOV Board of Directors meets weekly to review all cases. Funding of a veteran/applicant’s request requires at least three board members’ approval based on:

Appropriate need

Funds availability

Disbursement of Funds...

If the request is approved for funding, FOV checks are sent directly to the organization involved in the case, i.e. a bank, a landlord, utility. Rarely are funds disbursed directly to a veteran.