Veteran Services - History
A Special Message About Us...
The Spokane County Veteran’s Services Office is a public agency NOT affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (the V.A.). It is operated & owned by Spokane County and is governed by local yet nationally chartered Veteran’s organizations, known as a Central Relief Committee. Leadership and administration is provided by a Director, currently Chuck Elmore, who is appointed by the Spokane County Commissioners.
History
Spokane County Veteran’s Services has been a department of Spokane County since 1952. Originally known as the Veteran’s Aid Bureau, the office administered the “Soldiers and Sailor’s Relief Fund” which can be traced back to the 1890’s.
Each county in the state of Washington is responsible for providing emergency financial services to indigent wartime veterans, widows and their families. Funding for these programs are mandated by law and comes from a small portion of each county’s property tax revenues.
Central Relief Committee
Just like other large counties in the state, this office has an advisory committee known as the Central Relief Committee. It is comprised of representatives from each of this county’s nationally charted Veteran’s organizations.