Emergency Grant for Berks County Veterans and Their Families
The Berks County Department of Veterans Affairs, also called the Etchberger Veterans Service Center, runs the Berks County Veterans Temporary Assistance (BCVTA) Grant Program, a small fund for Berks County veterans and their families who are facing recent financial hardship and need temporary support to get past a setback outside their own control. The program began in February 2022 with seed funding sponsorships from the PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Veterans Trust Fund, PA LINK to Aging and Disability Resources Abilities in Motion, and Visions Federal Credit Union, and it is overseen by the Berks County Controllers Office.
The money goes toward necessities of life. The examples given are bus passes, emergency shelter, food, utilities, and vehicle repair for work. A request for support shall not exceed $500 within a calendar year, so this is help with one hurdle rather than ongoing monthly support.
Requests are judged on these criteria:
- Active-Duty Military Service, shown by a DD214 or other military discharge documents
- A recent event, within the past 1 year and outside the applicant's control
- Financial need, meaning monthly expenses meet or exceed gross household income
- Sudden and unexpected loss of income, and/or increase in expenses
- A request for assistance for necessities of life
- Over 60 years of age, or under 60 years of age but living with a disability
The fund serves Berks County veterans and their families in need.
The office is at 20 Commerce Drive, Wyomissing, PA 19610, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 4:00pm, closed holidays. The general-questions number for the department is (610) 378-5601; press 0 to speak with a representative. The page does not spell out the application form or the steps for turning in a request, so ask the office how to apply and what paperwork to bring.
One thing to keep in mind: the page does not say how quickly a request is decided.
Source: berkspa.gov/departments/veterans-affairs, read September 20, 2026.
The details
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Bus Passes, Emergency Shelter, Food, Utilities, Vehicle repair for work, etc.) Over 60 years of age Under 60 years of age but living with a disability Request for support shall not exceed $500 within a calendar year
- Active-Duty Military Service (DD214 or Military Discharge Documents)
In Berks County Department of Veterans Affairs’s words
The Etchberger Veterans Service Center a.k.a. the Berks County Department of Veterans Affairs is proud to announce our newly formed Berks County Veterans Temporary Assistance (BCVTA) Grant Program beginning February 2022. With seed funding sponsorships from the PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs(PADMVA) Veterans Trust Fund, PA LINK to Aging and Disability Resources (ARDC) Abilities in Motion, and Visions Federal Credit Union; the fund will be used as a supplemental community…
Organization
Berks County Department of Veterans Affairs
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This listing summarizes publicly available information from berkspa.gov/departments/veterans-affairs. Last recorded review: September 20, 2026. Contact the provider to confirm eligibility, hours and availability before you go. If something here is wrong, tell us.