WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today announced funding through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program to provide crucial housing services to homeless veterans and their families in West Virginia. The program will help organizations permanently house homeless veterans quickly, engage in outreach to find and serve veterans in need, provide veterans with case management and assist veterans in obtaining VA and other public benefits.
“Many of our veterans have returned from overseas only to fight another battle here at home. Whether its receiving quality health care, securing a job or finding affordable housing, we must ensure our veterans have access to the resources needed to thrive here at home,” said Senator Capito. “Our veterans have sacrificed so much to defend our great nation, and it is only right that we do everything in our power to assist homeless veterans and their families.”
“Our courageous veterans have risked their lives defending this country, and the fact that many of them are living in extreme poverty is simply unacceptable,” Senator Manchin said. “It is our duty as Americans to provide these heroes with the absolute best treatment when they return home, and that starts with making sure they have safe and adequate housing. These funds will not only provide our veterans and their families with the housing assistance they need and deserve, but it will also greatly help curb veteran homelessness in West Virginia.”
The funding announced today will support SSVF services in FY 2016, which starts October 1, 2015, and ends September 30, 2016. More information about VA’s homeless programs is available at http://www.va.gov/homeless. Details about the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program are online at www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp.
Individual award amounts are listed below:
$2,974,403 – Volunteers of America Mid-States (Raleigh, Mercer, Fayette, Summers, McDowell, Wyoming, Clay, Nicholas, Boone, Cabell, Lincoln, Mingo, Wayne, Logan, Putnam, Jackson, Roane, Mason Counties)
*In addition to the West Virginia counties listed, portions of this total funding amount will be allocated to counties in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee*
$1,996,015.42 – West Virginia Community Action Partnerships (Statewide)
$298,300 – Roark-Sullivan Lifeway Center (Kanawha, Cabell, Wayne Counties)
$188,688 – Helping Heroes (Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel Counties)
$133,012 – The Greater Wheeling Coalition for the Homeless (Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel Counties)
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