Wayne County staff report rise in veterans served amid state grant cuts; commissioners ask about funding for peacetime veterans

Kanele Johnson, interim director of the Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services, presented two veterans outreach reports and introduced Jeffrey Devereaux, the new Wayne County Veterans Services deputy director, at the Committee on Seniors and Veterans Affairs meeting. Johnson said staff forwarded reports covering Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024 and Oct. 1, 2024–May 31, 2025 and asked if there were questions before moving on to the next fiscal year.

The reports detail use of multiple funds and program activity. Staff said the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Fund and burial fund expenditures through May 31, 2025 totaled $575,652.10. The County Veterans Service Fund (CVSF) grant award for the previous fiscal year was $745,577; staff reported using $352,784.75 of that amount for direct emergency assistance such as utilities, furniture and housing. Staff said those services most frequently funded were utilities, food, furniture and housing support.

"It's an honor to continue to serve," Jeffrey Devereaux said after his introduction. "I'm 2 weeks in, so a little new to this, but I'm ready to learn and ready to lead." Harold Enmo, deputy director for Health, Human and Veterans Services, said the department is rebuilding capacity and expanding outreach.

Staff reported serving veterans in multiple communities: for one fiscal report period they served veterans in 23 of the county's 43 communities; staff clarified that another (more recent) report showed service in 29 of the 43 communities. Commissioners pressed for clarity over which report corresponded to each figure; staff explained there are two separate reports, one for fiscal year 2023–24 and one for the current fiscal year.

Johnson and other staff described a midyear state correction that reduced an anticipated award: "our funding was significantly cut last year by 60%," staff said, and that the county had already expended funds by the time of the state recalculation. Commissioners and staff discussed options to stabilize or increase local funding. Commissioner Killeen suggested exploring an increase in the millage for the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Fund to provide a more independent local revenue stream; staff noted state restrictions limiting some funds to wartime veterans and said peacetime veterans often must be served through other grants or nonprofit partnerships.

Staff also described plans to use a mobile outreach unit to reach veterans in communities that cannot easily travel to the county office at 400 Monroe. Devereaux and staff said they plan to deploy the mobile unit to reduce transportation barriers for differently-abled veterans and expand service reach.

A motion to receive and file both outreach reports was made by Commissioner Wilson and supported by Commissioner Dobbs; the committee voted to carry the motion.

The committee did not adopt new county policy during the discussion. Commissioners directed staff to continue outreach and explore funding options; no formal direction to increase millage or change state law was approved at this meeting.