Emergency Grants

In times of financial hardship, Veterans may be eligible for emergency grants to alleviate the burden of unforeseen emergencies.

Michigan Veterans Trust Fund

The Michigan Veterans Trust Fund is a State of Michigan emergency grant program that provides financial aid to wartime-era veterans who encounter temporary or unexpected financial hardship. 

A veteran or their spouse may be eligible for temporary financial assistance from the MVTF if the veteran has at least 180 days of active military service and an honorable discharge. The service must be active duty service during a wartime era. Veterans holding Expeditionary Medals for non-wartime era dates may also qualify. Financial assistance provided by the MVTF cannot generally be given more than once in a two-year period.

Michigan Veterans Trust Fund 65+ Peacetime Program

MVTF 65+ Peacetime is a new program to recognize the largest group of peacetime era veterans (1975-1990) who have recently started turning 65 years old. The program is designed to meet the critical needs of peacetime-era veterans without wartime-era service. Peacetime Veterans and their spouse must meet the following criteria: 

• At least 65 years of age in the current year
•  Served on active duty in the military during peacetime (180 days) 
• Discharged under honorable conditions

Application requests are limited to utilities and shelter (including home repairs) assistance. Surviving spouses of eligible veterans may apply.

Lenawee County Veterans Relief Fund

The Lenawee County Veterans Relief Fund provides temporary emergency assistance to those that meet the eligibility requirements. An emergent need is any unforeseen circumstance in the life of an honorably discharged veteran and/or their legal dependents that meets the prescribed eligibility requirements and requires immediate temporary assistance.

The VRF:

• Supplements existing aid programs but is not intended to replace them
• Provides temporary, not long-term, assistance
• For necessary essential needs, not for a relief of an inconvenient
• Financial hardship cannot be caused by financial mismanagement, or due to bankruptcy

A request must demonstrate that VRF assistance will reasonably allow the applicant to resume meeting their own financial obligations in a timely manner. If there is no reasonable expectation of financial recovery, the request does not meet VRF policy. 

Application Process

1. Applicants will be informed of VRF eligibility requirements and given:
   1. A checklist of required documents and information needed
   2. Referrals to other emergency aid agencies
2. Once the applicant has gathered all required materials, an interview will be scheduled with a VRF representative to complete the application.
3. Incomplete applications or failure to provide required documentation may result in denial
4. No cash assistance is provided. All payments are made directly to the vendor/creditor.

We will assist applicants as much as possible, either through the VRF or by referring them to other programs that may better meet their needs.

What Does Wartime-Era Mean?

Some programs refer to "wartime-era" service as an eligibility requirement. Wartime periods are defined as: