Emergency Relief/ Homeless Grant
The Emergency Relief Committee provides urgent assistance to eligible veterans, their dependents, and survivors facing emergency situations such as financial hardship, utilities at risk, or basic needs not met. The committee’s goal is to ensure that support reaches those with immediate critical needs, operating a grant application and review process that offers one-time financial aid. Dependents qualify under these categories:
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Spouse: Must be legally married to the veteran (no common law recognition in Virginia).​
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Child: Must be a biological child, legally adopted, or under court-ordered guardianship. Children must be under 18 unless a full-time student under 23, or permanently disabled before 18.​
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Parent: Must receive direct care from the veteran and meet financial criteria set by the Department of Veterans Affairs.​
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Survivor: Any qualifying dependent at the time of the veteran’s death.​
Grant applicants must disclose their situation, provide financial documentation, and acknowledge that funds are a non-refundable grant (not a loan). Applications are reviewed and recommended by committee members; grants require dual committee signatures and oversight from the Department Service Director.​
The Homeless Veterans Committee is tasked with assisting disabled veterans, their dependents, and survivors encountering homelessness or imminent risk thereof. The committee investigates each case to confirm homelessness, ensures all available resources (including chapter-level DAV support) are exhausted, and if qualified, makes recommendations for departmental grants.​
Committee procedures include:
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Investigative review of the applicant’s status and supporting documentation
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Confidential electronic case records, transferred annually for departmental retention
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Confidentiality assurance and annual departmental oversight
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Recommendation process similar to the Emergency Relief Committee, including required signatures and telephonic approvals during emergencies
How to Apply
Applicants start by completing the Emergency Relief/Homeless Grant Application, which requires verified veteran status and complete financial disclosure. The form is processed by chapter or department representatives, followed by an investigator review and recommendations. Final decision involves departmental committee approval and, if circumstances warrant, escalation to the Service Director or Service Commission Chair for reviewing authority.
Eligibility
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Eligible applicants include veterans, their spouses, children (biological, adopted, or under court guardianship and under 18, or full-time students under 23, or permanently disabled before 18), parents directly cared for by the veteran with limited income, and survivors who were legal dependents at the time of the veteran’s death.​​
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Applicant must be in urgent financial distress, confronting homelessness, or facing emergencies such as loss of housing, utilities, or medical expenses.​​
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Proof of veteran status (DD-214, Military ID, or VA documentation) and detailed financial disclosures are required with every application.
Review Process
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All claims for assistance are investigated by committee-authorized representatives, who verify the applicant’s eligibility and financial need.​
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The investigator checks for attempts to seek aid from other resources, chapter-level support, and exhausts available local resources before forwarding recommendations to the department committee.​​
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Emergency Relief and Homeless Committee members review cases confidentially. Approval requires multiple committee signatures, oversight from the Department Service Director, and may include telephonic approval for immediate needs.
Assistance Provided
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Approved applicants may receive a one-time, non-repayable grant for emergency expenses such as rent/mortgage, utilities, food, or medical needs.​​
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All financial assistance is paid directly to service providers or creditors (not to the applicant), ensuring funds address the certified emergency need.​​
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Grants are typically limited in amount per application; details and payment processes are available in the downloadable form and guidance from the committee