The Yates County Legislature has approved a contract with the Veterans One-Stop Center of WNY to provide services to the county’s military veterans.
Money for veterans’ services included in this year’s state budget
Yates County Administrator Nonie Flynn says the services are made possible through money provided to counties in this year’s state budget.
According to its website, the agency provides services including:
Benefits Counseling – Accredited Benefits Counseling Services ensure that veterans and their families take full advantage of all of the available government-provided benefits. Counseling services range from filing applications for federal disability compensation, pensions, education benefits and insurance, to enrollment in VA Health Care.
Education Services – Our Education Services support veterans and family members by offering an understanding and guidance of the educational resources available to them. This means acting as an “education mentor” and assisting clients on their individual paths to furthering their education.
Employment Services – Our Veterans Employment Services team supports veterans and families on the path toward economic well-being and self-sufficiency.
Legal Services – Legal services are provided through our partnerships with Neighborhood Legal Services and the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo. This collaboration provides easily accessible civil legal services for veterans and their families for issues such as Disability Related Matters, Housing Discrimination Cases, Bankruptcies, and more. Our unique model of providing services on-site allows access for veterans who would otherwise go without the legal help they need.
Financial Counseling – Financial counseling and coaching services are provided through the One-stop’s partnership with community members who are trained to help veterans and their families manage their finances and access community resources related to financial stability.
Readjustment Counseling – Therapy and counseling services are provided to address mental health and chemical dependency needs and focus on a variety of behavioral and mental health resources.
Housing and Emergency Services – Our housing services provide emergency shelter as well as transitional, supportive, and independent living housing options to veterans and their families. We are partnered with some of the best community agencies in the area to deliver a wide variety of services which include assistance with developing a plan to sustain permanent housing stability, housing search and placement assistance, follow-up, and more.
County considering increasing veterans’ tax exemption
The County Legislature has also scheduled a public hearing on a proposal to increase the property tax exemption granted to veterans from $25,000 of their home’s value to $40,000. Listen to my full Inside the FLX conversation with Yates County Administrator Nonie Flynn below.
Related: Steuben County ranks No. 2 in military veterans in New York State
