Veterans’ Financial AssistanceVeterans’ Financial Assistance

To see Christ in everyone both weak and strong, to understand their pain and yet still hear God’s song, I asked thee Lord to rise up those in strife, allow me to give a hand and improve their life, help me to guide them, to assist those in need, and in helping each other, your blessing plants a seed.

Program purpose Meet single, short-term needs on an emergency

basis, such as Unplanned car repairs Utility bills A single rent or mortgage payment

Program does not address long-term financial issues

Based on demonstrated financial need

Small, specific cash gifts Emergency basis Short term need – a single rent or mortgage

payment, household utility bill, prescriptions, emergency food and similar expenses

Need arises from sudden and unexpected loss of income

The loss must have occurred within 60 days of the application

Must be used for basic living expenses, not the cable bill

Two forms for this program:

Veteran status and financial situation

Expense category

Veteran applying to the program must meet basic requirements

The program also is open to the veteran’s spouse on the recent death of an eligible veteran

The veteran:

Demonstrates honorable discharge status from Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard or Reserves

Must be a resident of a state where the program is operational – currently Florida, Texas and California

May not be on public assistance other than Social Security or disability

Must demonstrate a real financial need

“Hardship” comes in many forms; TCB Caring Hands can assist only with the most pressing

TCB Caring Hands can address only basic needs, such as: Rent or mortgage payment Repairs to the primary vehicle Preserving electrical or household gas service Food, prescriptions, children’s needs, etc.

Unfortunate but ineligible expenses include Loan or credit card payments Taxes Legal or court expenses Noncritical household utilities – i.e., cable,

Internet or cell phone bills Child support, personal expenditures, etc.

Short Term Breathing RoomShort Term Breathing Room

Families’ emergency funds can be exhausted quickly The car dies, but it is

necessary to get to work

A missed rent payment can result in homelessness

Paying an unexpected expense leaves no money for food or electricity

This program addresses smaller problems for the purpose of heading off or avoiding large ones

Application RequirementsCost ExpectationsExpansion Progression

Required documentation: Complete TCB Caring Hands Financial Assistance

application Copy of Veteran’s DD-214 or Report of Separation

from active military service Copy of marriage license and veteran’s death

certificate for widows and widowers Documentation and demonstration of financial

need for item requested Proof of loss of income or emergency situation

May not apply more than twice in an 18 month period

Internal staff members Review applications Direct veterans to any other, longer term benefits

programs Categorize requests to establish future budgets

TCB Caring Hands will approve requests spanning a wide range of needs Establish a beginning budget Implement and execute long range fundraising

activities

Next states: California and Texas California has more than 2 million veterans Florida has more than 1.6 million veterans Texas has more than 1.6 million veterans

Will not be able to serve veterans in states other than Florida, Texas and California without changing initial veteran residence requirement

Likely should follow expansion of TCB Caring Hands’ Homes program

Particularly in the current economy, temporary funding shortfalls can lead to job loss, health issues, even homelessness

The point is to keep relatively small short-term problems from snowballing into much larger, long-term problems that are far more costly to rectify and more stressful to deal with

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