Saratoga County signs minor contract with YMCA to offer subsidized memberships to veterans

Saratoga County's Veterans Affairs Committee on June 3 heard that the county has signed a minor contract with the Saratoga YMCA to offer discounted memberships to veterans using county grant money.

The county's Veterans Service Agency representative, Frank McClements, told the committee the YMCA will automatically qualify participating veterans for 50% of the YMCA's financial-assistance discount, the county program will cover 25% and the veteran will pay the remaining 25%.

That split "was 1 of the lessons we learned the last time," McClements said. "The Y has committed to offering all veterans that participate through our program... they're automatically gonna qualify for 50% financial assistance through the Y. The program's gonna pick up 25%, and then the veteran will be responsible for 25% so that they have a little bit of skin in the game."

Why it matters: organizers said the arrangement should stretch county grant dollars farther while keeping veterans engaged by requiring a modest participant contribution. The program is administered through the county peer-to-peer grant funds (the transcript referred to "Dwyer funds"), and county staff said eligibility will be limited to Saratoga County residents.

Committee members were given program details: the county's peer program will require veterans who enroll in the subsidized memberships to sign up through the Veterans Service Agency office. McClements said the office will collect a DD-214 and the YMCA application as part of enrollment. He also said the county will monitor usage through YMCA software, and outreach staff will follow up with veterans who do not use their memberships.

"If they're not using it... Aaron is gonna reach out to the individual and say, hey. Are there barriers? Are you... struggling with transportation? We see you're not going," McClements said.

The contract covers most Saratoga County YMCA locations, McClements said; the Clifton Park YMCA is excluded because it belongs to the Capital Region YMCA network. He listed local locations that will participate, including Malta, Saratoga Springs, Wilton, Greenwich and Corinth, and said the program will include biweekly veteran meetings tied to accountability and camaraderie.

McClements also said the county expects the program to attract younger veterans who have been difficult to reach with prior activities. Through the county's allocation for the contract, officials said they expect to assist a substantial number of veterans but did not specify an exact enrollment cap.

The Veterans Service Agency report distributed to the committee also noted that the agency has been busy: "even through May, we've had 208 walk ins," McClements said, describing high demand for in-person assistance.

Ending: County staff said they will produce promotional materials and coordinate a press announcement once the program is active. Enrollment for subsidized memberships must begin through the Veterans Service Agency office; McClements said the office will prioritize Saratoga County residents.