WASHINGTON, D.C. --Sixty-five public and private nonprofit groups will receive nearly $11.5 million in grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop or expand programs to assist homeless veterans.
"Getting homeless veterans off the streets, addressing their health care needs, and getting them back to gainful employment is one of VA's top priorities," said Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Hershel Gober. "We've always known though, that we cannot do the job alone. These grants will mean that more homeless veterans will get the help they need. Furthermore, we are doing everything we can to get these funds distributed to keep homeless veterans from facing another winter on the streets."
The Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program allows VA to assist public and private non-profit agencies to establish and operate new supportive housing and service centers for homeless veterans. Grants may also be used to purchase vans to conduct outreach or provide transportation for homeless veterans. Since the first year of funding in 1994, VA has awarded 243 grants to nonprofit organizations. Total funding for grants has exceeded $50 million.
"Currently more than 2,000 veterans sleep each night in beds already funded under VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, and approximately 1,500 more beds are in the pipeline," said Gober. "This year's grants will create 995 new beds and fund 65 new vans to conduct outreach or provide transportation for homeless veterans."
While there is no true measure of the number of homeless veterans, it has been estimated that more than 200,000 veterans may be homeless on any given night. About one-third of the adult homeless male population and nearly one-quarter of all homeless adults have served their country in the armed services.
In addition to the Grant and Per Diem Program, VA is the only federal agency that provides substantial hands-on assistance directly to homeless persons. In 2000, VA dedicated nearly $150 million to its specialized homeless programs, including health care, rehabilitation, outreach and counseling programs for homeless veterans.
VA will also reach its 2000 goal of supporting 200 stand downs across the country. These 1-3 day safe havens for homeless veterans provide a variety of services including food, shelter, clothing, and a range of community and VA-specific assistance. Stand downs also provide health screenings, referral and access to long-term treatment, and benefits counseling.
"Like many of VA's homeless programs, stand downs would not be possible without support from community and veterans service organizations. We're a team. The grant and per diem program is an integral part of that teamwork," said Gober.
"This year's grants, ranging from $12,000 to nearly $1 million, will provide up to 65 percent of the cost of acquiring or renovating facilities that will be used for housing, for service centers, or to acquire a van to transport veterans to needed services," added Gober. "As a result of the new programs we fund today, many veterans who find themselves homeless now will be able obtain services in the community that will lead to a better life."
Information on the program is available on VAs home page, which can be reached through the Internet at http://www.va.gov/health/homeless/index.htm
