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In the last half of
2008, it was obvious that our country was moving into a recession...
some say worse.
All over the country,
veterans' programs are being cut and trimmed back.
This page -- Sign of
the Times -- will monitor these changes.
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SIGN OF THE TIMES ARTICLES:
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NOVEMBER 2009
The second-wave of
cost-cutting begins ...
SIGN OF THE TIMES:
PENN. CLOSING FIVE VETERANS OFFICES
(11-13-09)
The state is quietly shutting down a program, nearly 3 decades old,
that aids veterans statewide, mostly in rural areas.
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JULY 2009
INDIANA VETERANS
HOME LAYS OFF 31 WORKERS
(07-27-09)
Cost-cutting move is truly a Sign of the Times as Hoosier state
looks to save money.
ILLINOIS IN BIND AS
STATE PROGRAM BEATS NEW G.I. BILL
(07-24-09) A
combination of the old G.I. bill and an existing state grant
program has turned out to be a better deal for many veterans,
putting the state in financial trouble.
BUDGET CRUNCH KEEPS
VETS OUT OF PENN. STATE HOMES
(07-24-09) "Every
day this game goes on, people are actually physically getting
hurt. This is about patient care."
ILLINOIS VETERANS
SEE MORE SERVICE CUTBACKS
(07-23-09)
Illinois DVA reps not making rounds of remote service offices to
offer assistance.
JUNE 2009
OHIO VETERANS SEEK MORE
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
(06-30-09)
In one county, financial relief applications have increased 23
per cent in 2009.
IN MICHIGAN, BUDGET
CUTS AND MORE NEEDY VETERANS
(06-29-09)
One county DVA Director says, "The activity load is
overwhelming."
IN HARD TIMES, MORE
VETERANS TURN TO RED CROSS
(06-10-09)
"I'm having a hard time getting work. It's rough, but we're
still making what bills we can."
CALIFORNIA BUDGET
CRISIS AFFECTING VETERANS' SERVICES
(06-09-09)
Monterey County's Military
and Veterans Services Office is being asked to shave off a sixth of
its budget.
MAY 2009
BAD ECONOMY MEANS CUTS
TO VETERANS' SERVICES
(05-29-09)
"It's a travesty. The greatness of a nation will be judged by
how it treats its veterans."
HOMES FOR VETS PROJECT
STALLED BY BAD ECONOMY
(05-27-09)
Sign of the Times: "We didn't have the contributions coming in that
we had hoped."
NO MEMORIAL DAY PARADE IN
BROCKTON, MASS.
(05-20-09) "They
break the rules, they break our feelings. Everything goes down with
the budget."
MICHIGAN VETS' OFFICES
GET TEMPORARY REPRIEVE
(05-17-09)
Offices to stay open through June 12 as state reworks budget, hoping
to save service officers.
MICHIGAN VETS TO HOLD
PROTEST MARCH ON CAPITOL
(05-16-09)
"This is the wrong message to send to veterans. We're willing to
work with cuts, but we can't work with zero."
SIGN OF THE TIMES:
BUDGET CUTS HURT MICHIGAN VETERANS
(05-15-09)
"What's going to happen is there's not going to be any veteran
service officers out there working with veterans to file their
claims."
APRIL 2009
HOMELESS VETERANS
MIRROR OF DEPRESSION
(04-28-09)
Most of the veterans do not
have mailing addresses, but they leave phone numbers of friends and
relatives.
WAR VETERANS SAY JOBS
HARD TO FIND
(04-27-09)
They're welcomed back as
heroes, but all too often the veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq are
not welcomed back as employees.
VA, OTHER AGENCIES LOOK TO TRIM BUDGETS (04-21-09)
VA will cut administrative budget.
Cancels some conferences and substitutes video conferencing.
IN ROUGH ECONOMY,
MORE VETS SEEK VA HEALTH CARE
(04-15-09) Many
vets, unable to afford insurance, feel embarrassed to ask for VA
benefits as they've always been the bread-winner.
PA. BUDGET CUTS
LEAVE FRENCH MEMORIAL IN DISREPAIR
(04-14-09) "I
think it's scandalous that Pennsylvania doesn't do more to
maintain the Varennes memorial. It just has a general air of
neglect."
VETS' SERVICES DIRECTOR
SEES MORE REQUESTS FOR HELP
(04-04-09)
"They are all turning to this office to find out what other
benefits are available."
MASS. SOLDIERS' HOME TO
CUT SERVICES AND JOBS
(04-04-09)
"In this climate, like every agency out there, our budget has
been cut."
VETS STUNG BY ECONOMY
TURN TO CITY HALLS FOR HELP
(04-02-09)
"We have veterans coming in who were once gainfully employed and now
are on the brink of being homeless."
MARCH 2009
PROGRAM TO PREVENT SOLDIER
SUICIDE FACES CUTS
(03-21-09) Officials
are trying to restore some of the funding, but the program's
director Kenneth says any cut would hurt.
JOBLESS RATE FOR NEW VETS
HITS 11.2 PERCENT
(03-21-09) The
economic downturn is hitting Iraq and Afghanistan veterans harder
than other workers and may be encouraging some troops to remain in
the service.
VETS PART OF RISE IN
HOMELESS POPULATION
(03-16-09)
Homeless veteran in Dalton, GA never knew he had benefits until he
suffered a stroke and found help at the VA.
VETERANS FACING A NEW
FIGHT - FOR JOBS
(03-16-09)
"I apply everywhere, even
KFC. It's been tougher than I thought."
ECONOMY'S RETREAT
TRAPPING JOBLESS VETERANS
(03-11-09)
"It's tough. It's a really tough situation. I'm ready to work and I
feel like I'm able to, there's just nothing out there."
STATE CUTS IN OHIO
SQUEEZE VETERANS' GROUPS
(03-09-09)
"The American Legion has been forced to accept the greater burden of
the cost and now implement reduced services to veterans..."
VETERANS PITCH IN TO
MAKE UP COUNTY BUDGET CUT AT VETS' OFFICE
(03-09-09)
"Veterans Services is a passion of mine, I thought if they could
receive donations to make up that loss, we should do so."
COUNTY'S VETS' OFFICE
SHUT FRIDAYS DUE TO BUDGET
(03-08-09)
To help close a budget gap
caused by declining property and sales tax revenues, the Board of
Supervisors approved furloughs for employees.
ECONOMY PUTS FISHER
HOUSE FOR PITTSBURGH VA ON HOLD
(03-07-09)
Fundraising efforts have suffered. "We're not near where we need to
be."
FEBRUARY 2009
VETS LEARN ABOUT HEALTH
BENEFITS IN HARD TIMES
(02-27-09) "A lot of
veterans have their own businesses and are self-employed or they are
hired by big contractors and were laid off. Most of the time they
don't have insurance."
NEW YORK BUDGET CUTS
WOULD CLOSE HOMELESS VET SHELTERS
(02-25-09) "We're
in a war and they are coming back home. This is not the time to cut
these funds."
OHIO VETERANS'
MONUMENT LOSES TO BUDGET BATTLE
(02-24-09) The
Butler County Soldiers, Sailors and Pioneers Monument will cease
daily operation.
CALIFORNIA BUDGET
MORASS THREATENS NEW VETS' HOME
(02-19-09)
The continuing state budget dilemma is threatening to
derail the long-awaited construction of a state-owned and -operated
veterans home in Redding.
VETS' ADVOCATES SAY
PROPOSED STATE BUDGET CUTS ARE TOO DEEP
(02-16-09)
Proposed cuts in Connecticut budget would hinder veterans' services
say advocates.
UPDATE: VETS'
COMMISSION OPPOSES SCHOOL CLOSING
(02-11-09)
Pennsylvania Governor running into opposition on closing of Scotland
School for Veterans' Children.
ARIZONA VETS RESIST
BUDGET CUTS
(02-10-09)
Arizona DVA took a half-million dollar hit in this year's budget,
and the same could happen next year.
MICHIGAN COUNTY VETS'
SERVICES MAY FALL VICTIM TO ECONOMY
(02-09-09)
Livingston County officials
consider the elimination of the vets' services office by not filling
openings and merging its functions with other departments.
UPDATE: PARENTS PROTEST
CLOSING OF SCHOOL FOR VETS' KIDS
(02-08-09)
An angry, emotional crowd demanded answers about the closure of the
school.
BUDGET CRISIS CLOSES
CALIFORNIA'S DVA OFFICES TWO DAYS A MONTH
(02-07-09)
An executive order requires most employees to take two unpaid days
off a month. Most agencies are planning to close the first and third
Fridays of each month.
WORCESTER, MASS. TO
FEEL BUDGET CRUNCH WITH LOSS OF VETS' FUNDS
(02-04-09)
State will not be giving city
a 400,000 dollar reimbursement for veterans' tax exemption.
SCHOOL FOR VETERANS
CHILDREN TO CLOSE BECAUSE OF BUDGET CRISIS
(02-04-09)
Pennsylvania's Scotland School for Veterans Children will close in
June because of lack of funding.
SOUTH DAKOTA PLAN WOULD TAX
VETERANS' GROUP'S MEMBERSHIP DUES
(02-03-09)
The bill is part of the governor's proposals for balancing the state
budget next year.
JANUARY 2009
MILITARY RECRUITING SOARS DURING TROUBLED ECONOMY
(01-31-09)
Recruiter: "It's just like any other job market. Once everything
gets good outside, everybody forgets about the military. Right
now it's very good."
ALBUQUERQUE VA TO LOSE SEVEN RADIOLOGISTS
(01-27-09) "The
heath care for veterans is going to go down. I mean, way down.
It's simply, they might have to do without it."
UTAH GUARD AND VETS'
AGENCY TO TAKE BUDGET HITS
(01-23-09) "I
certainly don't want to have to reduce employees if I have to.
Hopefully there can be some negotiation..."
IOWA VETS TOLD NOT
TO EXPECT EXPANDED BENEFITS
(01-23-09)
Veterans' groups have 20 bills in Iowa's 2009 legislative
hopper, but were warned not to expect the victories they won
last year.
COLORADO BUDGET WOULD
TAKE MONEY FROM VETERANS
(01-17-09)
Governor calls for dramatic, across the board spending cuts that
would take millions from vets.
VA PULLS PLUG ON MONEY
FOR ALABAMA VETS' HOME
(01-14-09)
"That's not good news for those veterans on a waiting list...The
economic situation today is different than it was at this time a
year ago."
ECONOMY PROMPTS MORE CALLS
TO SUICIDE HOTLINES
(01-13-09) "Maybe the
fact that so many are calling is a positive sign. They're seeking
help."
CALIFORNIA BUDGET WOES
LIMIT ACCESS FOR VETERANS
(01-10-09)
South Lake Tahoe vets' office will only be open ten hours a week
due to budget cuts and staff reductions.
TEXAS VETERANS SEEKING
MORE HELP
(01-08-09)
The Amarillo VA Hospital has seen an increase in the number of
veterans applying for benefits because they are falling below
the means test threshold.
UPDATE: OHIO GOV.
VETOES VETERANS' BENEFITS BILL
(01-08-09)
"I am disappointed the governor has chosen to veto the veterans'
bonus and expressed his support for incurring more state
debt..."
VA SPIN DOCTORS HYPE
"ASSISTANCE" -- BUT HOW WILL VETERANS FIND OUT?
(01-07-09)
VA press release tells of many healthcare programs, but where's
the outreach to vets who need the information?
LOUISIANA TO CUT JOBS
AT STATE VA DEPARTMENT
(01-06-09)
Facing huge budget deficit, Gov. Bobby Jindal takes axe to many
departments.
IN CALIFORNIA, VETS'
HOMES MAY HAVE TO CHARGE RESIDENTS MORE
(01-04-09)
The veterans fee hikes would save the state millions a year by
removing a cap that ensures that residents pay no more than a
certain amount each month.
BUDGET CUTS IN MISSOURI
COULD SHUT DOWN VETS' NURSING HOME
(01-04-09)
State is also considering shutting down its veterans' cemeteries
as the budget squeeze is on.
MARTINSBURG VA DOES
AWAY WITH SECURITY CONTRACTOR
(01-02-09)
Officials say 22-member VA Police force can properly handle
security at the facility.
DECEMBER 2008
HOUSING HELPS, BUT
VETERANS NEED JOBS
(12-31-08)
Editorial: "These veterans have a wide range of talents and are
willing to work in a variety of skilled or unskilled positions,
on either a part-time or full-time basis."
MORE OKLAHOMA VETS SEEK
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
(12-30-08)
State officials say the number of veterans seeking emergency
financial assistance has doubled in recent weeks.
TENNESSEE SEARCHES TO
FUND VETERANS' EDUCATION PROGRAM
(12-27-08)
The issue could be a tough sell with the current state budget
crisis and lottery revenue down.
MORE VETERANS TURNING
TO THE VA FOR HEALTHCARE
(12-27-08)
"It was getting expensive. We made a
decision since my wife and I were both veterans to transfer our
care to the VA."
SHELTER AT MENLO PARK
VA MAY BE FORCED TO CLOSE
(12-24-08)
Charity running out of funds.
"We're hoping that the VA will be cooperative with the lease,
especially because about 70 percent of the people served are
veterans."
UPDATE: OHIO GOVERNOR
PLANNING VETO OF VETS' BONUS
(12-19-08)
Governor Strickland supports honoring the state's veterans but
opposes the funding source and plans to veto the measure.
TOWN'S VETERANS' AGENT
IS RUNNING ON EMPTY
(12-19-08)
"I do think we could be in trouble. With the current economic
situation of this country there will be more vets out there
needing help."
"RAINY DAY" FUND
BONUSES FOR OHIO VETS IN DOUBT
(12-16-08)
"Considering the historic budget challenges before us, I do not
believe it is fiscally responsible to pay for this worthy
priority with 'rainy day' funds that are designed for budget
emergencies."
VETERANS IN NEED RETURN TO A NATION IN THE RED (12-15-08)
Mental health services and jobs
programs could shrink as demand grows. "I anticipate we are going to
have difficult times."
NEVADA'S VETERANS' BUDGET FACING CUTS (12-14-08)
But, vets say federal money is being applied to general fund and not
being put in veterans' agency budget.
500 SHOW UP FOR 95 JOBS AT
BUFFALO VA
(12-09-08)
The VA is hiring Claims Examiners who will process education
benefits for veterans in 14 states in the Northeast part of the
country.
4,600 VETS SHOW UP FOR
BENEFITS WORKSHOP IN COLUMBUS, GA
(12-06-08)
"Many of these claimants will be receiving benefits for the first
time, and some of them had no idea that they were eligible for
anything."
LAYOFFS SEEN AT KENTUCKY
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS
(12-06-08)
"Given the size of the budget hole we are looking at, we have to
look at some very painful things in terms of cuts."
OCTOBER 2008
MAINE LOOKS TO CUT
VETERANS' BENEFITS
(10-29-08)
Across-the-board cuts of 10 percent in the state budget would
eliminate dozens of positions and reduce numerous program services.
PALM BEACH COUNTY VETERANS
DAY PARADE IN JEOPARDY
(10-18-08)
Parade organizers said they need money within 10 days or they'll
have to call off the event.
MONTANA VETS' CEMETERIES
MAY TAKE BUDGET HIT
(10-17-08)
"We hope to keep costs down for families. Every veteran who comes
forward will be buried."
OHIO COUNTY VETERANS'
OFFICE RUNS OUT OF MONEY
(10-09-08)
Economic woes: In Harrison County, there is not enough money to pay
the workers and keep the office open.
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