Daily Herald opinion: Activist has helped veterans group get on track, but there’s work to be done
The timely story of John “Dutch” DeGroot’s accomplishments at the Cook County Veterans Assistance Commission is worthy of our attention just for what already has been done. But we’re even more interested in what is left to do.
Our Christopher Placek told DeGroot’s story in a front-page story Monday, Veterans Day. A celebrated advocate for local veterans, DeGroot attended a meeting of the commission three years ago and knew immediately something had to change.
The commission had a budget of less than a half-million dollars, but a potential constituency of 170,000 Cook County armed services veterans. Things didn’t look good for being able to get more.
“I attended a meeting, and I saw how toxic it was,” DeGroot told Placek. “I said, ‘What the hell did I get myself into? This is unbelievable.’ They couldn’t get through a roll call.’”
He committed himself to encouraging more commission members so they could “turn this thing around,” and he hasn’t taken his “foot off the gas pedal” since.
Cook County veterans have much to be thankful for from DeGroot’s persistence — and from those who heeded his calls for help. New representatives of various veterans groups now participate in agency meetings, and the commission has a new superintendent to handle day-to-day operations. Significantly, thanks to veterans’ pressure on Cook County government, its $471,280 budget of two years ago has ballooned to potentially $2.8 million if approved by the County Board next week.
That’s a heartening reversal on its face. But it doesn’t take an accounting degree to realize how quickly even nearly $3 million can disappear under the pressure of serving the needs of thousands of veterans. The Cook County VAC presently has a staff of just five employees. It budgeted to add 14 more. By comparison, Placek pointed out Lake County’s veterans commission has a budget of $6 million and a staff of 35 to serve 35,000 veterans.
Under these programs, eligible veterans can get help with rent payments, utility bills, groceries, medical, educational and travel needs and more. The agency also can help vets search for work and Veterans Affairs benefits.
DeGroot has earned well-deserved praise for his role in helping get the Cook County agency back in a productive mode, but clearly it’s just a start. There’s still a fundamental need that especially stands out: A welcoming, professional location from which to operate. The VAC currently works out of the basement of the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center on the city’s West Side.
“We’re in a prison basement for God’s sakes,” DeGroot lamented. “Does a veteran feel warm and fuzzy going there?”
Just as big a question: As we pat ourselves on the back honoring veterans this week, are we really comfortable making them go there for the help they need?
What DeGroot and other activist veterans have accomplished in three years is gratifying and valuable. We look forward to seeing the cooperation of other agencies and governments that can help them get much closer to what they still need.