WASHINGTON — Homeless veterans and those who help them received a significant boost in their efforts when the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) made 55 new awards to public and private nonprofit organizations that assist homeless veterans. 

“It’s important that VA continue to help our nation’s homeless veterans, many of whom are still dealing with the effects of past conflicts,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake.  “These awards provide needed resources to hard working, caring and compassionate people who provide one-on-one care and services to our veterans every day in their own communities.”

Today’s announcement of awards to 55 community-based  organizations in 24 states will add over 1,000 transitional housing beds to the 9,400 beds already available for homeless veterans because of VA grants for the homeless.

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.

Last year, VA committed more resources than at any time in its history for programs benefiting homeless veterans.  The Department committed $26 million in new funding to support about 2,000 new transitional housing beds, $12 million for seriously mentally ill veterans, terminally ill veterans, frail elderly veterans and women veterans, to include women with children, and $2 million for other programs.

VA has provided more than $350 million in grants and per diem payments since it initiated the Grant and Per Diem Program in 1994.

Since 1988, VA has partnered with hundreds of communities to support more than 1,500 “Stand Downs” across the nation.  Stand Downs give homeless veterans a temporary refuge where they can obtain food, shelter, clothing and a range of community and VA assistance.  For more information on VA’s homeless programs, see http://www.va.gov/homeless/.

VA operates the nation’s largest integrated health care system, with 153 hospitals, more than 800 clinics, 135 nursing homes and 47 domiciliaries, treating about 1 million patients each week.  

For more information, visit the VA website at www.va.gov or contact VA’s Homeless Veterans Programs Office at (202) 461-7401, or e-mail VA at homelessvets@mail.va.gov.

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Grant recipients are listed below:

State

City

Agency

Alaska  

 

 

 

  Fairbanks

Fairbanks Rescue Mission

Arizona 

 

 

 

  Tucson

Comin’ Home, Inc.

California

 

 

 

  Bakersfield

Veterans Assistance Foundation, Inc.

 

  Colton

Help for Future Leaders

 

  Lancaster

Live Again Recovery Homes, Inc.

 

  Lodi 

The Salvation Army a California Corporation

 

  Los Angeles 

People Assisting the Homeless (PATH)

 

  Los Angeles

Volunteers of America Greater Los Angeles, Inc.

 

  San Bernardino 

Red Carnation Foundation

 

  San Francisco (2)

The Salvation Army

 

  San Jose

Emergency Housing Consortium of Santa Clara County

 

  Santa Clara

Live Again Recovery Homes, Inc.

Connecticut 

 

 

 

  Danbury

City of Danbury

 

  Hartford 

South Park Inn, Inc. 

Florida  

 

 

 

  Clearwater

Homeless Emergency Project, Inc. 

 

  Jacksonville 

Clara White Mission, Inc.

 

  Ocala

The Salvation Army a Georgia Corporation

 

  Orlando 

The Center for Drug Free Living, Inc.

 

  Orlando

The Tree of Life Ministries of Orlando Inc. 

 

  Stuart

Macedonia Community Outreach Ministries, Inc.

 

  Tampa

Volunteers of America of Florida 

 

  West Palm Beach

The Salvation Army a Georgia Corporation 

Georgia  

 

 

 

  Decatur

Transition House, Inc.

 

  Stone Mountain

Transition House, Inc.

Indiana  

 

 

 

  Fort Wayne 

The Shepherd’s House, Inc. 

 

  Fort Wayne

Volunteers of America of Indiana, Inc. 

Kentucky

 

 

 

  Lexington

Hope Center, Inc.

Louisiana

 

 

 

  Baton Rouge

Metamorphosis, Inc.

Massachusetts

 

 

 

  Leeds

United Veterans of America (dba Soldier On)

Minnesota

 

 

 

  St. Cloud

The Salvation Army

Missouri 

 

 

 

  St. Louis

Missouri Department of Mental Health

 

  Multiple sites

Society of St. Vincent De Paul of St. Louis

North Carolina 

 

 

 

  Ashville

Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, Inc.

 

  Durham 

Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers 

Nebraska 

 

 

 

  Lincoln 

People’s City Mission

 

  Omaha

Siena/Francis House

 

  Omaha

Stephen Center, Inc.

 

  Omaha 

The Salvation Army

New Mexico

 

 

 

  Albuquerque

New Mexico Veteran’s Integration Center

Nevada

 

 

 

  Reno

The Ridge House, Inc.

New York

 

 

 

  Brooklyn

Fitzgerald House, Inc.

 

  Brooklyn

Black Veterans for Social Justice, Inc.

 

  New York City

Volunteers of America of Greater New York

 

  Binghamton

Volunteers of America of Western New York, Inc

Oregon 

 

 

 

  Bend

Central Oregon Veterans Outreach, Inc.

Pennsylvania

 

 

 

  Cowansville

Mechling Shakley Veterans Center

 

  Harrisburg

YWCA of Greater Harrisburg 

 

  Lancaster 

Tabor Community Services, Inc.

Texas 

 

 

 

  Dallas

The Salvation Army a Georgia Corporation 

 

  Dallas

Union Gospel Mission

Virginia

 

 

 

  Roanoke

Total Action Against Poverty

Vermont 

 

 

 

  Bellows Falls

Phoenix Houses of New England

Washington

 

 

 

  Longview

Longview Housing Authority 

 

  Seattle

The Salvation Army

 

  Spokane

Pioneer Human Services

Wisconsin

 

 

 

  Milwaukee

Guest House of Milwaukee, Inc.

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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov

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