Hoosier Programs Land VA Grants
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowTwo Indiana organizations that serve homeless veterans have been awarded tens of thousands of dollars from a federal program. Indianapolis-based HVAF of Indiana Inc. and Shepherd's House Inc. in Fort Wayne will receive a portion of more than $10 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. HVAF of Indiana Inc. has been awarded nearly $250,000 in special needs grants for services for chronically mentally ill homeless veterans, more than $240,000 to renovate an existing transitional housing facility and more than $40,000 for a van to provide outreach and transportation.
Shepherd's House Inc. will get approximately $110,000 to upgrade a housing facility.
You can view the full list of VA awardees by clicking here and by clicking here.
November 12, 2013
News Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of Veterans Affairs has approved $8.8 million in grants to fund 164 projects in 37 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to rehabilitate currently operational transitional housing projects and acquire vans to facilitate the transportation needs of homeless Veterans.
“President Obama has made eliminating Veterans' homelessness a national priority,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “We want every Veteran who faces homelessness to know that VA is here to help. The Grant and Per Diem Program provides significant assistance to those who need it.”
The grants awarded through the Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program are for currently operational grantees, who will use this funding to rehabilitate their current project locations to enhance safety, security and privacy for the homeless Veterans they serve.
Additionally, funding for these organizations to acquire vans will assist homeless Veterans with transportation to medical appointments and employment opportunities, as well as enable grantees to conduct outreach within their communities.
GPD helps close gaps in available housing for the nation's most vulnerable homeless Veterans, including men and women with children, Indian tribal populations, and Veterans with substance use and mental health issues. Community-based programs funded by GPD provide homeless Veterans with support services and housing. GPD grants are offered annually as funding is available by VA's homeless Veterans programs.
Lisa Pape, National Director of Homeless Programs, which oversees GPD, said “These grant awards are a reinvestment in the community that will strengthen community services around the country so that homeless Veterans have access to safe and secure housing and receive quality support and services.
“The 2013 GPD grant awards represent an ongoing commitment to VA's community partners. These awards will make community-based GPD facilities safer and secure, ensuring that our community partners continue to provide excellent mental health support, employment assistance and job training with the essential component of housing,”
Pape added. “Whether it is aid in overcoming substance use or finding a job, a community helping hand is exactly what these Veterans need to lead a better quality of life.”
Since 2009, homelessness among Veteran has decreased more than 17 percent.
As part of President Obama's and Shinseki's five-year plan to eliminate Veteran homelessness
by 2015, VA has committed over $1 billion in fiscal year 2014 to streng then programs that prevent and treat the many issues that can lead to Veteran homelessness.
More information about VA's homeless programs is available at www.va.gov/homeless .
Details about the GPD Program are online at www.va.gov/homeless/GPD.asp.
To help a homeless Veteran or Veteran at risk of homelessness, refer them to the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans, 1-877-4AID-VET, or direct them to www.va.gov/homeless .
The hotline connects homeless Veterans, Veterans at risk of becoming homeless and their families with the VA services and benefits they have earned.
November 12, 2013
News Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of Veterans Affairs announced today that 25 projects in 11 different states will share approximately $4.9 million in grants to provide enhanced services for homeless Veterans this year. This is in addition to the approximately $300 million in preventive grants awarded earlier this year through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program.
“Our local partners have played a vital role in our effort to find, engage, and rescue every homeless Veteran,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “Until no Veteran has to sleep on our Nation’s streets, we still have work to do.”
As a key component of VA's plan to eliminate homelessness among Veterans, VA’s Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program funds community agencies that provide services to homeless Veterans. The program promotes the development and provision of supportive housing and services with the goal of helping homeless Veterans achieve residential stability, increase their skill levels and income, and obtain greater self-determination.
On a single night in January 2012, a national count of homeless Veterans totaled 62,619, which was more than 17 percent below the figure for 2009. As part of President Obama's and Secretary Shinseki's plan to eliminate Veteran homelessness in 2015, VA has committed over $1 billion in fiscal year 2014 to strengthen programs that prevent and treat the many issues that can lead to Veteran homelessness.
For more information, visit VA's website for the National Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Office at www.va.gov/homeless/GPD.ASP. Additionally, VA has a National Call Center for Homeless Veterans, 1-877-4AID VET (1-877-424-3838), http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/NationalCallCenter.asp.
Source: The Department of Veterans Affairs