WASHINGTON – Homeless veterans in Illinois will have greater access to assistance, thanks to a $213,792 grant awarded by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans for operations in Wheaton.
“Only through a dedicated partnership with community- and faith-based organizations can we hope to end homelessness among veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson. “Illinois veterans answered their country’s call to serve during its greatest times of need, and now some live without shelter. This grant will help them get back on the road to self-reliance.”
Shelter for Homeless Veterans will operate at 119 N. West Street in Wheaton, where services such as job training and referrals, as well as mental health and substance abuse treatments will be offered.
Shelter for Homeless Veterans’ grant for this project is one of 52 grants recently announced by VA worth nearly $11.6 million to public, private non-profit and faith-based groups for programs assisting homeless veterans.
This latest round of grants brings the number of community-based beds to more than 10,000, provided by public and community non-profit and faith-based organizations with VA funding in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
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.
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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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