Mon, 14 Jul 2008

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/. 

 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.

A list of grant recipients is attached. VA's Homeless Grants - 2008 by State, City,and Recipient

• 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 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 
• Connecticut Danbury City of Danbury Hartford South Park Inn, Inc. 
• Florida Clearwater Homeless Emergency Project Jacksonville Clara White Mission, Inc. Ocala The Salvation Army a Georgia Corporation Orlando The Center for Drug Free Living 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 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 ouge 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 
• 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 New York City Volunteers of America of Greater New York Binghamton Volunteers of America of Western New York, Inc 
• North Carolina Ashville Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry, Inc. Durham Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers
• Oregon Bend Central Oregon Veterans Outreach 
• Pennsylvania Cowansville Mechling Shakley Veterans Center Harrisburg YWCA of Greater Harrisburg Lancaster Tabor Community Services 
• 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 

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.