Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Terrie Suit Announces $555,000 Grant for Virginia Supportive Housing
– Funding Will Help Reduce Veteran Homelessness in Virginia –
RICHMOND - Virginia Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Terrie Suit announced today the recent approval for $554, 977 in federal Veterans Affairs (VA) grant funding for Virginia Supportive Housing (VSH), an agency that works closely with the Virginia Department of Veterans Services to reduce homelessness for veterans and their families. The program provides supportive services and financial assistance to low-income veteran families who occupy permanent housing in the greater Richmond area. Case management services are geared toward enhancing housing stability and accessing VA benefits.
Secretary Suit commented, "Unfortunately, some of our bravest service members and veterans become overwhelmed by the burdens of physical, psychological or emotional disabilities related to their service that leave them jobless or homeless. Virginia has chosen to help them in tangible ways such as assisting them with applying for their VA benefits, providing mental health care assistance through the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program and helping them find a job through the Virginia Employment Commission."
"This funding will provide some much-needed relief to veterans and their families who have given so much but who have not been as fortunate themselves," said Paul Galanti, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services.
The program will help an estimated 96 households in the first year alone. With existing infrastructure in place, the program could begin as early as Oct. 1 of this year. Virginia is home to more than 820,000 veterans and over one in 10 Virginians is a veteran.
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