Adams County veteran services reports client contacts, equipment donations and home repairs

Veteran services staff told the Adams County Health and Human Services Committee that the office handled dozens of client contacts in February, moved donated mobility equipment into storage, and secured grants to assist veterans with home repairs.

"In February, we saw 49 client appointments, 9 outreach health and welfare checks, 651 phone calls and electronic mails combined," the staff member said, summarizing the month.

The staff member said they moved an "abundance" of wheelchairs and other donated equipment to the ADRC for storage and helped a veteran whose bathroom floor required replacement. That repair, coordinated with Ace Hardware, prevented the veteran's toilet from collapsing through a weakened floor. The office also reported it had secured a grant through Juneau County to assist the same veteran with a roof replacement and another grant for a road-related expense.

To improve access when the office is closed or in appointments, the veteran services staff member said the office has ordered an LED scrolling ticker sign for the window that will display messages such as "appointment — please call" and "available" or "not in." The staff member said the sign will be bright and include a pull-tab phone number outside the door so residents can request appointments.

Committee members asked about the potential impact of federal funding cuts. The veteran services staff member responded, "We're county employees. We don't work for the VA, so we're not federally funded," and added that the office's grants typically come through the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.

Committee members thanked the presenter and moved on to other agenda items.