The county veterans department presented its quarterly outreach and benefits report and previewed a larger Stand Down event for veterans in April.

Tom Eamon, identified in the meeting as a representative of the veterans department, said the federal Department of Veterans Affairs reports large national PACT Act volumes — the VA has received millions of claims nationally, with a high grant rate and an average process time in the transcript of about 125 days. Locally, Eamon reported the office has helped dozens of veterans with enrollment and paperwork and that in the last quarter the office assisted about 40 veterans per month in person and brought $1,460,876 in benefits into the county for clients.

Upcoming outreach
Eamon and partner organizations said they have reserved a venue for a county Stand Down on April 23. The presenters said they expect to expand the event from last year’s turnout: last year about 240 veterans attended, with approximately 40 vendor tables; county staff and partners said they hope for 300–400 veterans at the next Stand Down and to increase vendor participation from about 40 to about 60. The VA and the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) indicated they will send staff to support identification, health‑care enrollment and other services.

Services and trends
Presenters reported both older veterans and younger veterans are seeking services: many older veterans had not pursued benefits previously and are now enrolling as needs arise; the office is also seeing younger veterans in their early 30s with needs coming off active duty. The office said it has been handling a steady volume of phone calls and in‑office paperwork assists, and that staff assist with filing for caregiver stipends and other VA benefits.

Speakers and attribution
- Tom Eamon, veterans department (presenter and source for national and local claims and benefits figures)
- Representatives from Community Action/SVVF and WDVA joined the presentation and described vendor and outreach plans for the Stand Down.

Ending
The county’s veterans office said it will continue outreach, keep educating veterans on eligibility (including caregiver support) and expand the April Stand Down outreach. Staff asked commissioners and county partners to help publicize the event and to support vendor recruitment.