WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today identified recipients of approximately $12.5 million in grants as part of VA’s Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program. Recipients are community and faith-based organizations, as well as state, local and Indian tribal governments that provide critical services to homeless veterans.
“These awards demonstrate President Bush’s commitment to ending chronic homelessness in America,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. “VA is proud of its role in combating homelessness. I am confident that these grants will improve the lives of many veterans in their time of need.”
Thirty-eight programs in 25 states have been named to share $8.5 million in grants. These grants will assist community-based agencies acquire, renovate, or build transitional housing facilities, provide supportive services for homeless veterans and purchase vans for outreach to or transportation of homeless veterans.
The awards will support opening 451 beds, one independent service center and one service center operating in conjunction with supportive housing. Twenty-six organizations will receive funds to purchase 33 vans.
Priority for the grants was given to Indian tribal governments and organizations in states without veteran-specific programs. Five awards were to providers in four of the targeted states. Those programs are located in Alaska, Montana, New Hampshire and North Dakota. Two grants were awarded to organizations associated with Indian tribal governments.
For the first time, VA is also providing grants to community-based agencies for renovations needed to comply with requirements of the Life Safety Codes of the National Fire Protection Association, which must be met by 2006. VA has awarded more than $4 million to 28 programs for sprinkler and alarm systems or other safety-related structural changes. Individual awards range from about $14,600 to nearly $700,000. Organizations selected for Life Safety Code grants operate facilities established under previous VA grants.
A summary of approved projects is attached. More information about VA’s Homeless Assistance Programs and Initiatives can be found at http://www.va.gov/homeless on the Internet.
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2003 Homeless Veterans Program Capital Grant Award Selectees
State
City
Agency
Award
Alaska
Juneau
Juneau Alliance for Mental Health, Inc.
Housing and van
Ark.
Little Rock
St. Francis House, Inc.
Van
Ariz.
Tucson
Comin' Home, Inc
Van
Calif.
Bakersfield
Veterans Assistance Foundation, Inc.
Van
Compton
United States Veterans Initiative, Inc.
Housing and van
Long Beach
United States Veterans Initiative, Inc.
Van
Los Angeles
People In Progress, Inc.
Van
Los Angeles
Salvation Army
Van
Los Angeles
Salvation Army
Van
San Diego
Vietnam Veterans of San Diego
Housing
Colo.
Denver
Colo. Veterans for Housing, Inc.
Van
Fla.
Jacksonville
Clara White Mission, Inc.
Van
Mass.
Brockton
Mass. Veterans, Inc.
Housing
New Bedford
SE Mass. Veterans Housing Program
Van
Pittsfield
United Veterans of America, Inc.
Housing
Roxbury
Veterans Benefits Clearinghouse
Van
Mich.
Ann Arbor
Mich. Ability Partners
Van
Minn.
Granite Falls
Yellow Medicine Co. Veteran Services
Van
Mont.
Missoula
Missoula Housing Authority
Housing and serv. ctr.
Missoula
Poverello Center, Inc.
Van
N.C.
Charlotte
Family Forum, Inc.
Van
Durham
Volunteers of America of the Carolinas
Housing
N.D.
Fargo
Centre, Inc.
Housing
N.H.
Fitzwilliam
Veterans Hospice Homestead, Inc.
Housing
Nashua
Harbor Homes Inc.
Housing
N.J.
Irvington
Gospel Services Benevolent Society Inc.
Van
Newark
Urban Renewal Corporation
Van
N.Y.
Rochester
Salvation Army
Van
Ohio
Cincinnati
Joseph House, Inc.
Van
Pa.
Philadelphia
Impact Services Corporation
Van
S.D.
Pine Ridge
Oglala Sioux Tribe
Housing
Tenn.
Knoxville
Steps House, Inc.
Van
Texas
San Antonio
Amer. GI Forum Nat. Vet. Outreach Prog.
Housing and van
Utah
Ogden
Homeless Veterans Fellowship
Housing
Wash.
Walla Walla
Valley Residential Services
Van
Wis.
Tomah
Veterans Assistance Foundation, Inc.
Van
W.Va.
Martinsburg
Telamon Corporation
Housing
Wyo.
Ethete
Northern Arapaho Housing Dev. Org.
Service center
2003 Homeless Veterans Program Life Safety Grant Award Selectees
