Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission reports surge in walk-ins at new Bond Hill location

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NORWOOD, Ohio (WXIX) - The Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission has seen a two-fold increase in walk-in visits since relocating to its new Bond Hill facility in March, according to Executive Director Glenn Welling.

The commission moved into the Bond Hill space on March 2. Welling said the uptick is largely attributed to the new location sitting at the geographic center of Hamilton County, making it more accessible for veterans across the county.

New space addresses longstanding barriers

The previous downtown office presented crowding and parking challenges for veterans seeking services. The new facility offers 1,000 free parking spaces and provides each veteran service officer with a private office for one-on-one meetings.

“When we were downtown, we had some people, sometimes two or three to an office,” Welling said. “And it was a real inhibiting factor because our veteran service officers meet and engage with our veteran clients one-on-one and oftentimes they’re sensitive or confidential information that gets shared during those meetings.”

The new location also includes a dedicated training room used for sessions on resume development, financial planning, and budgeting — programming Welling said was not possible at the former downtown site.

Claims team securing benefits for veterans

The commission’s 25-member staff includes a claims department that Welling said has been producing results. He said the team secured $25,000 in retroactive VA disability claims for one veteran during the current week, in addition to that veteran’s monthly benefits.

“The amount of money that they’re able to secure from the VA disability claims process is just incredible,” Welling said. “And people get significant amounts of back pay.”

Welling encouraged veterans whose claims were previously rejected to return to the office, saying they may be missing out on benefits.

Data-driven outreach targets unreached veterans

A part-time staff member, described as a Xavier University graduate pursuing a master’s degree in data analytics, developed a series of heat maps using 2020 census data. The maps identify veteran populations by ZIP code, track which veterans are accessing VA benefits, show those who have engaged with the commission, and highlight veterans who have not engaged with either.

Welling said the commission is focusing outreach efforts on areas where veterans have not yet been reached.

Veterans Appreciation Day set for Aug. 15

The commission is hosting its third annual Hamilton County Veterans Appreciation Day at TQL Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free event is open to Hamilton County veterans and their families. Organizers are asking attendees to RSVP in advance through Eventbrite to ensure adequate food supply.

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