Pinellas veterans protest closure of county center [Tampa Tribune, Fla.]

Jan. 30--CLEARWATER -- Pinellas County veterans are being forced to wait weeks to get help with disability claims and other services, local veterans groups told Pinellas County commissioners Tuesday.

Dozens of veterans, many in uniform, crammed into the commission meeting to complain that their calls to the county's veteran's services offices often are not returned for weeks. Those who went in person to the offices waited hours to be seen, they said.

Some never got the help they needed, said Daphni Austin, veteran liaison for Suncoast Hospice, who said she knew a handful of veterans who died while waiting for help.

County officials said the problem was the result of staff shortages at its two veterans facilities in Clearwater and St. Petersburg, which are normally manned by five veterans services officers, or VSOs, and two clerical assistants.

But the county has been operating with just two veterans services officers since workers left over a six-month period, said Gwendolyn Warren, director of the county's Health and Human Services department.

"I can't work these two guys any harder than they are," she said.

Warren conceded there was a backlog of calls but said she has taken action to address the delays. She said she had hired two more employees but, it will take months to fully train them.

Officials from local veterans groups said at least one position had been open for a year and questioned why it has taken the county so long to address the staffing shortfall.

They also said five veterans services officers is inadequate to deal with Pinellas County's 95,000 veterans, the third highest number in Florida. By comparison, neighboring Hillsborough has eight veterans services officers serving its 93,000 veterans.

County Commission Chairman Ken Welch, who said his father is a veteran, said it is obvious the county must reduce the delays.

"We all care about our veterans clearly and we want to get to the problem and address it quickly," he said. "In some cases, we've cut too much. In my opinion, this is one such area."

Commissioners asked County Administrator Bob LaSala to draw up a plan by next week to end the delays.

___

(c)2013 the Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Fla.)

Visit the Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Fla.) at www.tampatrib.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services