While house foreclosures are soaring nationwide, quick intervention by loan counselors at the Department of Veterans Affairs has reduced the number of veterans defaulting on their home loans.

Counselors at nine regional loan centers are helping those with VA-guaranteed loans avoid foreclosure through advice and special financing arrangements. The counselors also can assist other veterans with financial problems. VA counselors have helped about 74,000 veterans, active-duty service members and survivors keep their homes since 2000, a savings to the government of nearly $1.5 billion, according to the VA.

Depending on a veteran’s circumstances, VA can intercede on the borrower’s behalf to pursue options such as repayment plans, forbearance, and loan modifications that would allow a veteran to keep a home.

Since 1944, when home-loan guarantees were offered with the original GI Bill, VA has guaranteed more than 18-million home loans worth $911 billion. Last year, about 135,000 veterans, active-duty service members and survivors received loans valued at nearly $24 billion.

About 2.3-million home loans still in effect were purchased through VA’s home loan guaranty program, which makes home loans more affordable for veterans, active-duty members and some surviving spouses by protecting lenders from loss if the borrower fails to repay the loan. More than 90 percent of VA-backed home loans were given without a down payment.

Data from April shows that foreclosures are down more than 50 percent from the same month five years ago. VA attributes this to prudent credit underwriting standards, its robust supplemental loan servicing program and the assistance provided by VA loan counselors.

Help from a counselor is available to veterans by calling (877) 827-3702. Information about VA’s home loan guaranty program can be obtained at www.homeloans.va.gov.

Guard rescinds change on graveside services

Rep. Kenneth Carter, who heads the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, says he understands the financial dilemma faced by the Rhode Island National Guard, which early this month announced it would sharply curtail the number of special details it provides at veterans’ graves.

The Guard, which did so in the face of federal budget cuts in the next fiscal year, quickly abandoned the plan in the face of objections by Carter, a North Kingstown Democrat, and others.

The Guard, which traditionally has provided a bugler and firing squad for any veteran whose the family requests them, decided to restrict the service to 20-year veterans of military service and those killed in action.

State law requires that the National Guard provide the graveside detail to all veterans.

State law also stipulates that the General Assembly will provide the money to finance it, noted Lt. Col. Denis Riel, Guard spokesman. It has never done so, and the Guard has covered the details out of its own budget.

The Guard will continue to do so, regardless of its budget squeeze, officials said. But they say they also plan to discuss finances with the governor’s office and Carter’s committee.

“I am committed to working with the Guard to find a way to resolve this issue in everyone’s best interest, Carter said last week.

•Veterans of Foreign Wars

Gatchell Post 306 and Auxiliary units will meet at 7 this evening in the post home, 171 Fountain St., Pawtucket. Smithfield Memorial Post 2929 will meet Wednesday at 7 p.m., in the post home, 47 Farnum Pike, Smithfield.

•Italian-American Veterans

Cappucci-Weir Post 1 will meet at 6 p.m. tomorrow in the post home, 9 Court St., Bristol.

•Warwick Veterans

The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow in VFW Post 183, 176 Washington St., Warwick.

•Disabled Veterans

Folcarelli Chapter 1 Post will meet at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in VFW Post 2812, 1418 Plainfield St., Cranston.

•American Legion

Berard-Desjarlais Post 88, 111 Chapel St., Harrisville, will meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. Raymond Fontenault, Burrillville’s veterans service officer, will hold office hours that evening at the post home, from 6 to 8 p.m. Shields Post 43 Juniors Unit will meet Saturday at 10 a.m., at the post home, 662 West Shore Rd., Warwick.

•U.S. Army Association

The R.I. chapter’s executive committee will meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. in VFW Post 10011, 354 Fruit Hill Ave., North Providence.

•Marine Corps League

The South County Detachment will meet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in VFW Post 916, 155 High St., Wakefield.

•Special Forces

Rhode Island Chapter 48 will meet Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., at the Corner Tavern, 20 South County Trail, North Kingstown.

•Vietnam Veterans

Chapter 273 will meet Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in VFW Post 4651, 7 Haven Ave., Cranston.

•Seabees

Island X-1 Davisville will meet at the Seabee Park and Museum, 21 Iafrate Way, North Kingstown, at 9 a.m. Saturday.

•WAVES Ocean State Unit 118 will hold a luncheon meeting at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Bickford’s Grille, 995 Fall River Ave., Seekonk.

George W. Reilly can be reached at VeteransColumn@verizon.net or by writing to The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, R.I. 02902.