clay county commission

Nancy Edmonds Hanson

Thanks to a network of state and federal services and veterans organizations, as well as aggressive outreach to those who need help there are no homeless identified veterans today here in Clay County.

That’s what Curt Cannon, the county’s veteran services officer, reported to the Clay County Commission at its regular meeting Tuesday. “Identifying veterans is the key. The number at this point is functionally zero,” he told commissioners. Thanks to intake screening at Churches United for the Homeless and in the criminal justice system, Cannon said, those who qualify for help through their military services are getting services from his office and from the Veterans Administration, as well as other supporting organizations.

“There are so many resources in Clay County, from the VFW and American Legion to Beyond the Yellow Ribbon and Veterans Treatment Court,” the retired soldier said. He has manned the office in the Family Service Center since 2015. “Veterans in Clay County are very well taken care of. That’s our main goal.”

Cannon and veterans service coordinator Jennifer Conklin each confer with two or three vets every day, he said. helping them to complete the paperwork needed get the benefits to which they are entitled. They offer assistance with a wide variety of issues related to qualifying for those benefits, from arranging admission to a US Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center or obtaining a copy of the individual’s discharge record to applying for health benefits and compensation for disabilities that occurred during military service or were aggravated by it.

Veterans Treatment Court is a diversionary program that aims to help vets who get involved with the judicial system with all kinds of needs, from substance abuse to finding secure housing. “It’s the most rewarding part of my job,” he said. A team meets weekly with individuals, referring them to the resources they need and assessing their progress.

Part of their caseload involves working with widows and families after a veteran’s death. They consult with funeral homes and offer guidance on obtaining burial benefits, including headstones, footstones and bronze stars to which the former service member is entitled.

Cannon said that outreach to find underserved vets can take unusual forms. “When I see a panhandler with a sign that reads ‘Vet Needs Help,’ I pull over to talk with them on the spot. If they are actually veterans – and not all are – I can guide them to the resources to get the help they need and they deserve.”

He complimented the Clay commission on its concern for veterans. “We’re truly fortunate to work in a county that supports its vets to the extent that we do here,” he said. “There are multiple avenues of resources available. We just need to identify them and get them into the system.”