At its September meeting, the Kitsap County Veterans Assistance Program released statistics about the help it gave out to area veterans during the month of August.
More than $16,000 was dispersed to veterans in need. Among that amount, $7,218 was given in rent assistance. Another $3,278 was given to help veterans with their Puget Sound Energy bills and another $265 was given to pay natural gas bills.
Water bill help amounted to $241 and sewer bills were paid to the tune of $384. Another $251 went for help with bills to Waste Management.
In all, $1,101 was paid in August for help with medical care and $785 was paid for help with dental care. About $300 was spent to help veterans with clothing needs.
Another $924 helped vets with their automobile repairs. Gasoline help accounted for $295 and more than $1,853 went for help with food.
The total number of veterans helped was 39, and of those 15 were new clients. There were only two applicants that were denied due to their income being over the necessary income levels. They were, however, referred to other organizations for help.
Year-to-date, 308 applications have been received and 289 veterans have been helped. Of those, 141 are new to the program this year.
In all, more than $100,600 has been paid out to help veterans in Kitsap County.
In August, of those who asked for help, 14 were heads of households and their average age was 42. The majority were single men although there were three single men with children and one single female head of household. The highest monthly income of applicants served was $2,673 and the average was $791.