WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today identified recipients in California to share in approximately $31 million in grants as part of VA’s Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program.
“This year’s awards reach out to groups assisting homeless veterans with special needs, such as those coping with chronic mental illness, those who care for young children and those with terminal illnesses,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. “VA is proud to help coordinate with other organizations to help end chronic homelessness for veterans in America.”
The California grants include:
· Los Angeles, to Salvation Army for a program for chronically mentally ill veterans;
· Oakland, to Operation Dignity, for a program for chronically mentally ill veterans;
· San Francisco, to Swords to Plowshares, for a program for chronically mentally ill veterans;
· San Jose, to Emergency Housing Consortium of Santa Clara County, for a program for chronically mentally ill veterans;
· Long Beach, to United States Veterans Initiative, for a program for homeless women veterans;
· Los Angeles, to Salvation Army, for a program for homeless women veterans;
· San Diego, to Vietnam Veterans of San Diego, for a program for homeless women veterans;
· Santa Rosa, to Vietnam Veterans of California for a program for homeless women veterans; and
· Los Angeles, to Volunteers of America of Los Angeles, for a program for frail, elderly homeless veterans.
Thirty-nine programs in 17 states and the District of Columbia have been named to share $18 million in grants. These first-time “special needs” grants will assist non-profit and faith-based organizations providing services to homeless veterans who are women, caretakers of minor children, elderly, terminally ill or who have a chronic mental illness.
In addition, VA is providing nearly $13 million to medical centers to enhance collaboration with the grant recipients assisting those specific homeless populations.
VA is also providing grants to community-based agencies in eight states for renovations needed to improve safety of veterans as identified in the Life Safety Codes of the National Fire Protection Association.
