During a time of natural disaster, eligible Veterans or the surviving spouse of a Veteran may be eligible for a Disaster Relief Grant.
Disaster Relief Grants become available when the Governor declares a state of emergency and publishes an executive order authorizing the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs to provide financial assistance to affected Veterans or the surviving spouse of a Veteran in the counties specified in the executive order.
The Disaster Relief Grant amount varies with each state of emergency and is based on available funding. The grant, when authorized, can be paid through a reimbursement process directly to the Veteran or surviving spouse, or via direct payment to an authorized contractor or vendor.
Please contact your County Veterans Service Officer for more information or assistance in applying for Disaster Relief benefits. Find your CVSO at www.macvso.org or by calling 1-888-LinkVet (546-5838), MDVA's one-stop customer service line for all Minnesota Veterans and their families.
** Applications relating to Executive Order 25-06 are now being accepted **
Minnesota Veterans living in Beltrami County who were impacted by recent storms may now apply for a Disaster Relief Grant through the State Soldiers Assistance Program from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.
On July 8, 2025, Governor Tim Walz issued Executive Order 25-07 – “Declaring a Peacetime Emergency and to Provide Storm Recovery Assistance in Beltrami County.” This order amended Executive Order 25-06, which authorizes MDVA to activate the State Soldiers Assistance Program (SSAP) Disaster Relief Program to provide financial assistance to Veterans following severe storms in Beltrami County. Eligible Veterans would have experienced storm damage on June 21, 2025.
Executive Order 25-07 authorizes the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs to provide direct financial assistance to Veterans and their families facing unexpected hardships due to natural disasters. Assistance may include help with housing, utilities, and other essential needs, as determined by MDVA. Financial support is provided through the MDVA SSAP Disaster Relief Program.
To begin the grant application process, Veterans should contact the Beltrami County Veterans Service Officer Shane Gustafson at shane.r.gustafson@co.beltrami.mn.us or 218-333-4178 or Assistant Beltrami County Veterans Service Officer Luke Wilkowski at luke.wilkowski@co.beltrami.mn.us or 218-333-4177.
Grant amounts will be up to $500 and are payable either directly to a vendor or contractor or a Veteran can be reimbursed for allowable expenses. Applications will be accepted until authorized funding is exhausted or September 5, 2025, whichever occurs first.
