Helps a number of Romans over troubles also engulfing part of US (6)
I believe the answer is:
avails
'helps' is the definition.
(availing is a kind of helping)
'a number of romans over troubles also engulfing part of us' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'a' is within the answer.
'number' could be 'v' (V is an example) and 'v' is located in the answer.
'troubles' could be 'ails' (as verb) and 'ails' is found within the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for avails that I've seen before include "Makes use of saliva" , "Takes advantage of or benefits from" , "Is of profit, helps" .)