Veterans Service Commission reports rising per-request assistance costs, modest caseload growth

During a presentation to the commissioners, Matt Zelnick, interim executive director of the Franklin County Veterans Service Commission, outlined increases in the average amounts paid per assistance request and described a modest uptick in caseload. "In 2025, for example, the average utility assistance award from our agency was $779. This year through August, we're averaging $1,025 per request, an increase of 24%," Zelnick said. He also said mortgage assistance averaged about $3,450 per request in 2025 and is running at $3,961 through August, a 13% increase.