Supporting military veterans

In my work at both the State Legislature and at Skagit Valley College, I’ve learned that veterans face significant challenges during and after the transition to civilian life. Many face significant mental health and medical hurdles, as well as an increased risk of experiencing homelessness. Here are some quick facts about the difficulties many veterans face.

Veterans are more likely to experience homelessness than non-veterans. Male veterans are twice as likely—while female veterans are three times as likely—to experience homelessness than the rest of the population. (Center for Disease Control)

According to a 2016 VA study, the veteran suicide rate in Washington is 55% higher than state average (S. Department of Veterans Affairs)

Nearly 20% of veterans who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan experience depression or PTSD (RAND Center for Military Health Policy Research)

We need to do more to help those who have served our nation and community, and these are certainly some of the issues I will be looking to address during the next legislative session. In the meantime, I want to make sure everyone is aware of the benefits that the state currently provides veterans, and how to access these important programs.

In addition to services offered by the federal government through the VA, the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) offers many programs, including career assistance and those designed to help veterans navigate housing, mental health, and medical challenges.

Programs offered include:

• Transitional housing for veterans experiencing homeless

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• The Veteran Owned Business Certification Program

• The Veteran Innovation Program

• The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project

• The Veterans Peer Corps

• The Veterans Conservation Corps (VCC)

• Connection to the Traumatic Brain Injury Program

• Help with college and career training

You can find out more or apply for benefits at http://www.dva.wa.gov, by phone at 1-800-562-2308, or by email at [email protected].

Additionally, we passed several important bills last legislative session that will help many veterans become more financially stable.

All veterans with disabilities who are also students now qualify for in-state tuition regardless of state resident status, saving these veterans thousands in tuition costs.

The state legislature also provided long-term tax relief for seniors and veterans with disabilities by creating a better way to calculate the exemption qualification threshold. The cost of living differs across the state, and this new calculation helps us give our veterans with disabilities the tax relief they deserve.

We need to support our veterans. Our state already has several great resources that we should expand upon. I pledge to work with local, state, and federal officials to strengthen our support of veterans and their families.

As always, it is an honor to serve you in the state legislature.