February 26, 2026
LANSING, Mich. – This year, the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund (MVTF) proudly marks its 80th anniversary, celebrating eight decades of steadfast commitment to Michigan veterans and their families. Since its inception, the MVTF has distributed more than $133 million to veterans in need of emergency financial assistance.
“The legacy of the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund is one of meeting the needs of veterans in some of their darkest times,” said MVTF director Lindell Holm. “Since 1946, the Trust Fund has been a reliable resource for veterans to turn to when facing financial emergencies that put them and their families at risk of losing their shelter, heat, electricity and other necessities. It’s a privilege to be able to serve my fellow veterans through this program.”
The MVTF was created by the state Legislature in 1946 to help wartime-era veterans with a $50 million corpus that has since grown to about $80 million. The Emergency Grant Program is intended to help veterans overcome an unforeseen situation causing a temporary or short-term financial emergency that a grant will resolve and for which the applicant can demonstrate the ability to meet future expenses. Emergency expenses may include utility bills, home repairs, rent and mortgage assistance, etc.
Beginning December 2021, the MVTF Board of Trustees expanded services to peacetime veterans aged 65 and older to offer financial counseling and emergency aid. Like its Emergency Grant Program for wartime-era veterans, the MVTF's 65+ Peacetime Program allows veterans who served in a peacetime era, have at least 180 days of active duty service and were discharged under honorable conditions to apply for emergency assistance.
Applications for assistance are reviewed and decided upon by local committees of veterans appointed by the MVTF Board of Trustees. The seven-member board is appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer and has constitutional authority over the Emergency Grant Program expenditures and policies. For 80 years, the MVTF has approved more than 650,000 applications for emergency assistance for veterans and their dependents who were in financial crisis.
In addition to providing emergency financial assistance, the MVTF collaborates with community partners, such as GreenPath Financial Wellness, Inc., to provide financial education and debt management programs for veterans. These services can help many veterans who are struggling to manage their finances or overcome crippling debt. The goal is to help veterans gain financial stability.
To learn more about the MVTF, please visit Michigan.gov/MVTF.
To apply for emergency funds from the MVTF, veterans or their loved ones should contact their local county veterans services office or call 1-800-MICH-VET (1-800-642-4838) for the contact information.
Veterans interested in the free financial counseling can call GreenPath Financial Wellness, Inc., at 1-800-550-1961.
Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency – The MVAA is the central coordinating agency, providing support, care advocacy and service to veterans and their families. As a state agency, MVAA works to identify and break down barriers veterans face in employment, education, health care and quality of life, to make Michigan a great place for veterans and their families to call home. More information about MVAA is available at Michigan.gov/MVAA or by reading our FY25 Annual Report.
