State home for veterans gets federal designation
Arizona’s second residential home for military veterans now is eligible for federal funding.
Gov. Jan Brewer’s office says the Arizona State Veteran Home in Tucson received a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs designation after passing a three-day inspection.
Brewer’s office says the federal designation of the Tucson facility means it will begin collecting federal payments for care of veterans, enabling the facility to fill the rest of its 120 beds.
Arizona also has a state home for military veterans in Phoenix. AP
Arizona extends veterans fund with stipulations
Arizona has extended the life of a program aimed at helping military families that are undergoing financial hardships, but an audit has to be done.
Gov. Jan Brewer and the Legislature agreed to extend the Military Family Relief Fund through 2018. Created in 2007, the fund depends on the donations of Arizona residents. They can get a dollar-for-dollar income tax credit for donating.
Republican Sen. Frank Antenori of Tucson was a co-sponsor of the extension bill. He tells the Arizona Republic that men and women are still getting injured and killed in the line of duty and some expenses aren’t covered by the military.
Since 2010, the fund awarded about 200 families a total of almost $1 million. In 2011, an audit found inconsistencies with the way some of the money was awarded.
Because of the past problems, the state is requiring an audit in two years. AP
