Williams County veteran services officer details caseload, warns of predatory —claim sharks'

Grant Kins, Williams County Veteran Service Officer, told the Board of County Commissioners on May 19 that his office served 2,589 veterans residing in Williams County in fiscal year 2025 and facilitated roughly $21.7 million in VA-related benefits and services to local residents.

"My name is Grant Kins, Williams County Veteran Service Officer. I've been in the job 16 years in November," Kins said. He told the board the office also serves 175 veterans who live outside the county and logged 132 veteran visits year to date in 2026 (not including walk-ins and phone calls).

Kins described a variety of assistance the office provides, including help with rent, emergency hotel stays, caregiver reimbursement and vehicle repairs. He credited the American Legion and community partners for helping deliver food boxes (just under 50 per year) and for allowing use of a Legion van for transportation to regional medical centers in Watford, Sidney, Minot, Bismarck, Fargo and Jamestown.

Kins said mental-health access remains a challenge locally but noted efforts that he said have helped reduce veteran suicide: "We really curtailed our veteran suicide in our county. Fiscal year 2025, it was just under five. It was 4 point average was like 4.9. And year to date, knock on wood, we haven't had one yet this year," he said, crediting periodic visits from the Vet Center, Connect Us Therapy and the relocated VA clinic.

Kins warned the commissioners about predatory firms he called "claim sharks," which he said solicit veterans and may charge 30% to 40% of a veteran's potential back pay. "These unscrupulous people tend to come out of the woodworks and in doing so they take advantage of our nation's greatest asset, our veterans," he said, urging commissioners to notify his office if constituents report such solicitations. He said he had recently received a cluster of nearly 50 calls from Sidney and had contacted the Montana Department of Veterans Affairs.

Kins also mentioned an unconfirmed rumor of a proposed long-term care veterans home for northwest North Dakota and eastern Montana; he said location and timing were not specified and that he planned to discuss the idea with Senator Hogan and staff.

During follow-up, commissioners thanked Kins and asked how far the office will serve nonresidents; Kins said he does not turn veterans away and tries to coordinate with regional providers, but cautioned that service demand could require adjustments if cross-border use continues to grow.

The discussion closed with commissioners expressing appreciation for the VSO's work and urging greater public awareness of the office's services.