VETERANS SERVICE AGENCY REPORT
October 1, 2026 - 12:00 PM
Director’s Report
§ Local Activities
o Last Committee meeting we discussed preventing Veterans homelessness.
Our staff was able to avoid two more veterans and their families from becoming homeless. We avoided five veterans (total) from needing to be placed in temporary housing. This was accomplished by effective advocacy providing retroactive pay due the veteran for disabilities incurred in service.
In Late September, the VA announced it will award $1.17 billion in grants to 680 organizations to help veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless secure housing and help with job training, health care coverage, and counseling. An estimated 32,495 veterans experienced homelessness on a single night in January 2025, according to a census conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. These grants will help to prevent the imminent loss of a home, identify suitable housing for veterans and their families, and rapidly rehouse veterans who are homeless and likely to remain homeless without assistance.
I will explore options and give a detailed report to the legislature.
o We completed our research to provide the number of Sullivan County veterans that would qualify for the 100% disabled property tax exemption.
A total of one hundred thirty-four (134) Sullivan County residents would qualify for this tax exemption with ninety (90) of them being veterans, ten (10) widows, and thirty-four (34) bedbound and wheelchair-bound unemployable veterans. However, this number will decrease as veterans recover or complete treatment.
Bill S1183 will take effect on October 1st, 2026 however, this bill is no longer mandatory state-wide, and must be approved by the local tax assessors and/or a resolution for county-wide acceptance.
o VSO’s Zackery Jones and Joseph Putnam have been successful in securing multiple benefits for county veterans and their spouses. They have advocated for caregiver support, pension and indemnity compensation as well as presumptive illness due to toxic exposures.
o Our Administrative Assistant, April Barschow has increased the number of widows in receipt of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation and death benefits since her accreditation. April’s close contact with funeral directors has effectively expedited this process.
o On five (5) separate dates in August and September, our Clerk Sheldon Dillon helped to distribute pallets of food at the Community Assistance Center. Sheldon continues to provide excellent service to special needs clients suffering from hearing, sight and mobility issues. He goes the extra mile to make sure everyone gets helped.
o On August 4th, I attended training provided by VA Secretary Collins to cover new procedures and regulations concerning the reconstruction of records lost in the NPRC fire of 1973. This training also covered the evidentiary standards applied for adjudication when official documentation is not available.
o On August 6th, I attended a seminar presented by the VA accredited law firm Woods & Woods to discuss the unusually high rate of veterans diagnosed with ALS. ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease is a fatal nervous system disorder that slowly destroys the nervous cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement.
As this condition has strong ties to toxic exposures common in military service the VA has granted presumptive status.
o On August 8th, myself and staff attended the Vet Fest and Stand Down. The event was well attended by over 200 veterans and spouses. The event was very successful as we made contact with 46 veterans in need of our services.
o On August 10th, I completed VA TMS training for records management, HIPAA and FOIA and handling of classified documents.
o On August 11th, I reviewed eligibility standards and services provided by Home for Heroes. This organization aids with acquiring wheelchair ramps, handrails, and walk-in showers for mobility limited veterans.
o On August 18th, I attended NVLSP training which covered inadequate exams and court case review of duty to assist errors common in the VA claims we file for county residents.
o On August 19th, I participated in the NYS Dwyer Coalition Meeting that covered the following:
§ Veteran population and who we are counting
§ Dwyer funding and advocacy
§ Guard and Reserves outreach
§ Incarcerated veterans
§ Advocacy and collaboration with statewide programs
o On August 21st, our office notified all Sullivan County Veterans Organizations of programs and opportunities available at the Workforce Development Summit Veteran Forum 2026, which will be held on October 7, 2026 at The Kartrite.
Event Highlight:
§ Veteran & Employer panel discussion
§ Workforce & training resources
§ Inclusive hiring strategies
§ Veteran employment success stories
§ Community partner networking
§ Resource exhibitors
o On August 26th, myself and staff attended the Vet Fest after action meeting to discuss adjustments and improvements for 2027.
o On September 9th, I participated in the NYS Department of Veterans’ Services Zoom meeting which covered medical support programs for veterans recovering from cancer treatment.
o On September 14th, April Barschow and I attended the Quarterly Fiscal Training to review the Fiscal Toolkit.
o On September 16th, I attended the NYS Dwyer Coalition meeting. Some topics covered include:
§ Veterans outreach mobile van schedule and services
§ The VA Caregiver Support Program and Onward Ops providing peer support and resources to help veterans navigate challenges and reconnect with purpose and community.
o On September 18th, we held our POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony right here in the Legislative Hearing Room. I would like to thank all that attended. As of September 2026, the POW/MIA Accounting Agency has recovered 222 of our missing since last year. 179 WWII, 42 Korea, and 1 Vietnam finally providing closure to family and loved ones.
o On September 19th, Sheldon Dillon attended the Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library 90th Anniversary Celebration and took part in the rededication of the restored 1936 plaque memorializing the 143rd Sullivan County Civil War Regiment.
o On September 23rd, I attended the Sullivan County Tax Assessors meeting to discuss interpreting veterans’ documents and eligibility for all tax exemptions covered under NY Law 458 parts A&B.
o I met with NACVSO representative Jim Zenner to discuss the Citizen Guide Program to assist over 115,000 foreign-born veterans in becoming US citizens.
VETERANS SERVICE AGENCY REPORT
October 1, 2026 - 12:00 PM
1. Veterans referred to Sullivan County Transportation for VA Medical Appointments:
Albany Castle Point Local
July 4 33 34
August 4 39 33
2. Veterans/Dependents buried in Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery through Sept. 23, 2026:
Veterans Buried Alone . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,184
Dependents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Veterans/Spouses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 724
Total Burials in Veterans Cemetery - 2,059 (+30 since Dec. 2025)
3. Contacts:
July 208
August 252
4. Applications:
July 18
August 27
5. Homeless Veterans:
July 0
August 2
6. New Veterans
July 5
August 8
7. Phone Calls
July 719
August 789