Before the sharp rise in real estate prices in late 2020, Central Colorado was a favorite spot for veterans of the United States armed services to relocate to. The solitude of the rural and mountainous environment was a draw for many who, with some benefits from the Federal Government, could make ends meet despite the lack of employment opportunities. But as the cost of everything continues to rise, the pressure on veterans already living here has steadily increased, and the isolation of many makes it hard for them to connect with others for help when dealing with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The importance of veteran services has been steadily increasing over the past decade, and Custer County has worked diligently over the years to provide as much support as possible through a Veteran Service Officer (VSO) that helps those who have served to navigate the complex bureaucratic benefits system.
Since 2023, Custer County’s VSO, Dominic Edginton, has served energetically and helped increase the local benefits that veterans receive year after year. When presenting to the Custer County Board of County Commissioners on May 22, he stated that the benefits paid out to veterans coming to his office from January to May 1 were $765,000. Edginton has established a reputation for being effective in securing benefits for locals.
However, the curse of induced demand seems to have struck his office, and over the past few months, he has been increasingly helping veterans in Fremont and Chaffee County get their benefit needs met. “So obviously Fremont County,” he trailed off, looking for how to describe the increased demand from veterans living outside of Custer, “I got people swarming down here.”
According to Edginton, Custer has 581 veterans out of a population of 5,000. Fremont County has a large population of veterans, approximately 4,500, and Chaffee County has 1,500. However, despite the large population of veterans, Edginton claims that those other counties lack the necessary VSO staff to handle the mounting demands for assistance; therefore, they are seeking help in Custer County.
Commissioner Lucas Epp commented earlier in the meeting about the situation during his Commissioner’s report, “We had a good turnout at the Veterans Coffee Group. We do have Fremont County’s veterans who are going to be coming up here fast and furious. They are just not getting the help from their VSO in Fremont that they deserve, so they’ll be up here.” Epp was clear that even though these veterans did not live in Custer County, they would still be assisted, “and we would serve our veterans wherever they are.”
For months, the BOCC has discussed the costs associated with increased demand and hired a new assistant to help with the growing caseload. “I don’t exactly track the total percentage of Custer vs Fremont veterans that are coming to me, but I would guess it is about 60% Custer and 40% Fremont,” he told Commissioner Bill Canda, who pressed him on the issue. “Maybe we need to get those Commissioners [in Fremont] to help fund us,” Canda replied.
Edington responded, “I mean, they’ve got VSOs, but the problem is I know they’re not helping. Same thing with Chaffee County; last month, I helped two homeless veterans out of Chaffee County, and the VSO there quit after that because people started asking questions.” Exasperated, Edington continued, “Fremont has three part-time VSOs, but it is clearly not working if veterans keep coming here.”
“It is their (Fremont BOCC) commissioners that have no clue what the VSOs hired are supposed to be doing. They don’t track the VSO’s metrics, and they cannot show what they’re actually doing. Those VSOs are not proving that they can be effective. I have talked to 12 veterans, 2 of them Korean War Veterans, who said they all went to the Fremont County VSO and got no help.”
A significant part of the issue is that Edington has extensive experience from his military service, which focused on healthcare, and several years in Mesa County helping veterans obtain benefits before relocating to Custer County in 2023. His experience is unusual, and it continues to prove its value to veterans. Commissioner Canda even stated, “Well, we have Dominic,” highlighting that such experience is not easily gained.
One possible solution is actually found in the Colorado State Law, passed in 2002, which established the VSOs in each County. The state legislature recognized that some rural counties would be hard pressed financially to provide their own full-time VSOs, “The Boards of County Commissioners of adjacent counties may act jointly in establishing a veterans service office for such counties and in appointing a veterans service officer, authorizing the hiring of additional county veterans service officers, and authorizing the hiring of staff as determined necessary to operate an office for the counties.” A regional VSO office that was jointly funded for the region’s 6,500 veterans would go a long way to deal with the problem of induced demand.
The Tribune reached out to the Fremont BOCC and will provide a separate article on their response.
Jordan Hedberg
