One Day at a Time

The other day, Rob and I had to ask the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund for help. Our family support unit (which, generally speaking is far from supportive) referred us to them after it became clear that the Michigan economy and the accompanying job drought was slowly killing our family. I've been out of work for nearly a year now. Coincidentally, this is just about six months longer than we can afford for me to be unemployed. Thanks to a tremendous outpouring of support from friends a few months back, we were able to preserve our house after disaster struck while Rob was deployed. But it's been clear for several weeks now that Rob's income alone simply will NOT pay our bills. We are faced with losing our house once again. And so, we go to the Veterans Assistance office (conveniently located in the county welfare office) to ask for emergency assistance. We explain that we MUST make our house payment within 72 hours or else we risk defaulting on the repayment agreement we've worked out with them. We explain that we don't have the money-- that the soonest we'll have the funds is about 2 days after the deadline, and that our mortgage company has told us this is unacceptable. There is no grace period. And so, we ask for help. We come bearing copies of utility bills (many with warnings that they'll be shut off soon), car note (also late) and most importantly, Rob's orders; verifying that he has served in Iraq twice, under honorable conditions. It is the latter documentation, we are told by the Family Support office, that guarantee their assistance. Turns out, not so much.

Turns out that Rob doesn't qualify. His service in combat, supporting the fighter jets that provide vital air cover and protection to ground troops; his volunteer work at the base hospital, working with the dead and dying-- a task he undertook IN ADDITION to his regular duties; none of it matters. They told him he would have to go back to war for another three months before his service would "count" and we would be eligible for aid. Rob's cousin Walt was killed after just six weeks in Iraq. What does it say about our country and it's supposed support for the troops that if Walt had come HOME that day (instead of getting blown up) he would be told he that his service "didn't count yet;" but since he was "lucky" enough to die instead of coming home that day, he's a hero and entitled to every benefit his survivors can claim? What does it say about the state of Michigan that they would deny vitally needed emergency assistance to a Veteran and his family- even if saying no meant they might lose their home?

The Veterans Assistance program in Michigan has an inherent bias against National Guard veterans, particularly Air Guard. Because these service personnel are typically deployed for shorter periods of time than their brothers and sisters in arms, they are basically locked out of receiving service-based aid; unless they are "lucky" enough to have three+ deployments under their belts before disaster strikes. This is especially egregious when one considers that the office in charge of administrating this program (the Michigan Veterans Affairs Office) is run by an officer of the Michigan National Guard. As the Department of Defense relies more and more on Guardsman to perform duties that traditionally were reserved for Active Duty forces, the State of Michigan (and frankly, the Department of Defense in general) needs to reevaluate it's criteria for offering assistance to military families in need. Failure to do so is a failure to recognize the service that women and men like my husband have provided. It is a refuse to acknowledge their sacrifices. It is to tell them, as we were told that day, that they "don't count yet."

So, we're on our own. We'll pay the mortgage two days late and pray that the bank doesn't decide to proceed with punitive action because we've violated the repayment agreement. I'll keep searching, applying and interviewing for jobs. And Rob will put on his uniform every single day, go back to the base and serve his country-- knowing that even as he does, in the eyes of the State of Michigan, his service "doesn't count."

I'll bet the guy at the Veterans Assistance Office has a "support the troops" ribbon on his car. Too bad he doesn't mean troops like Rob.