WASHINGTON — Homeless veterans and those who help them received a significant boost in their efforts when the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) made 55 new awards to public and private nonprofit organizations that assist homeless veterans.
“It’s important that VA continue to help our nation’s homeless veterans, many of whom are still dealing with the effects of past conflicts,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. “These awards provide needed resources to hard working, caring and compassionate people who provide one-on-one care and services to our veterans every day in their own communities.”
Today’s announcement of awards to 55 community-based organizations in 24 states will add over 1,000 transitional housing beds to the 9,400 beds already available for homeless veterans because of VA grants for the homeless.
VA has the largest integrated network of homeless assistance programs in the country. It is the only federal agency that provides substantial one-on-one contact with the homeless. In many cities and rural areas, VA social workers and other clinicians conduct extensive outreach programs, clinical assessments, medical treatment, alcohol and drug abuse counseling and employment assistance.
Last year, VA committed more resources than at any time in its history for programs benefiting homeless veterans. The Department committed $26 million in new funding to support about 2,000 new transitional housing beds, $12 million for seriously mentally ill veterans, terminally ill veterans, frail elderly veterans and women veterans, to include women with children, and $2 million for other programs.
VA has provided more than $350 million in grants and per diem payments since it initiated the Grant and Per Diem Program in 1994.
Since 1988, VA has partnered with hundreds of communities to support more than 1,500 “Stand Downs” across the nation. Stand Downs give homeless veterans a temporary refuge where they can obtain food, shelter, clothing and a range of community and VA assistance. For more information on VA’s homeless programs, see http://www.va.gov/homeless/.
VA operates the nation’s largest integrated health care system, with 153 hospitals, more than 800 clinics, 135 nursing homes and 47 domiciliaries, treating about 1 million patients each week.
For more information, visit the VA website at www.va.gov or contact VA’s Homeless Veterans Programs Office at (202) 461-7401, or e-mail VA at homelessvets@mail.va.gov.
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Grant recipients are listed below:
State | City | Agency |
Alaska |
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| Fairbanks | Fairbanks Rescue Mission |
Arizona |
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| Tucson | Comin’ Home, Inc. |
California |
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| Bakersfield | Veterans Assistance Foundation, Inc. |
| Colton | Help for Future Leaders |
| Lancaster | Live Again Recovery Homes, Inc. |
| Lodi | The Salvation Army a California Corporation |
| Los Angeles | People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) |
| Los Angeles | Volunteers of America Greater Los Angeles, Inc. |
| San Bernardino | Red Carnation Foundation |
| San Francisco (2) | The Salvation Army |
| San Jose | Emergency Housing Consortium of Santa Clara County |
| Santa Clara | Live Again Recovery Homes, Inc. |
Connecticut |
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| Danbury | City of Danbury |
| Hartford | South Park Inn, Inc. |
Florida |
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| Clearwater | Homeless Emergency Project, Inc. |
| Jacksonville | Clara White Mission, Inc. |
| Ocala | The Salvation Army a Georgia Corporation |
| Orlando | The Center for Drug Free Living, Inc. |
| Orlando | The Tree of Life Ministries of Orlando Inc. |
| Stuart | Macedonia Community Outreach Ministries, Inc. |
| Tampa | Volunteers of America of Florida |
| West Palm Beach | The Salvation Army a Georgia Corporation |
Georgia |
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| Decatur | Transition House, Inc. |
| Stone Mountain | Transition House, Inc. |
Indiana |
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| Fort Wayne | The Shepherd’s House, Inc. |
| Fort Wayne | Volunteers of America of Indiana, Inc. |
Kentucky |
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| Lexington | Hope Center, Inc. |
Louisiana |
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| Baton Rouge | Metamorphosis, Inc. |
Massachusetts |
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| Leeds | United Veterans of America (dba Soldier On) |
Minnesota |
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| St. Cloud | The Salvation Army |
Missouri |
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| St. Louis | Missouri Department of Mental Health |
| Multiple sites | Society of St. Vincent De Paul of St. Louis |
North Carolina |
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| Ashville | Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, Inc. |
| Durham | Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers |
Nebraska |
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| Lincoln | People’s City Mission |
| Omaha | Siena/Francis House |
| Omaha | Stephen Center, Inc. |
| Omaha | The Salvation Army |
New Mexico |
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| Albuquerque | New Mexico Veteran’s Integration Center |
Nevada |
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| Reno | The Ridge House, Inc. |
New York |
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| Brooklyn | Fitzgerald House, Inc. |
| Brooklyn | Black Veterans for Social Justice, Inc. |
| New York City | Volunteers of America of Greater New York |
| Binghamton | Volunteers of America of Western New York, Inc |
Oregon |
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| Bend | Central Oregon Veterans Outreach, Inc. |
Pennsylvania |
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| Cowansville | Mechling Shakley Veterans Center |
| Harrisburg | YWCA of Greater Harrisburg |
| Lancaster | Tabor Community Services, Inc. |
Texas |
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| Dallas | The Salvation Army a Georgia Corporation |
| Dallas | Union Gospel Mission |
Virginia |
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| Roanoke | Total Action Against Poverty |
Vermont |
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| Bellows Falls | Phoenix Houses of New England |
Washington |
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| Longview | Longview Housing Authority |
| Seattle | The Salvation Army |
| Spokane | Pioneer Human Services |
Wisconsin |
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| Milwaukee | Guest House of Milwaukee, Inc. |
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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
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