The VA is renewing funding for transitional housing and support services to homeless veterans with special needs so they might “achieve residential stability, increase their skill levels and income, and gain greater self-determination.” The Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program (GPD) Special Need Grants will allot $5 million to 25 organizations that provide services to veterans who are women, frail elderly, terminally ill, or chronically mentally ill, or who care for minor dependents.
The GPD offers funding grants annually. Only community agencies with supportive housing (up to 24 months) or service centers with case management, education, crisis intervention, counseling, and other services for specialized populations (such as homeless women veterans) are eligible for the funds. Grants can be used for acquisition, renovation, or construction of a building that will provide services for homeless veterans; per diem funding is paid to help organizations defray operational costs. Nonprofit organizations, state and local government agencies, and Indian Tribal governments are eligible to apply if 75% of their clients are veterans.
Although a 2013 survey counted 57,849 homeless veterans in the U.S., that number represents a 24% decline since January 2010, VA reports. In support of President Obama’s and VA’s goal of ending veteran homelessness in 2015, VA has also committed more than $1 billion in fiscal year 2014 to strengthen programs that prevent and treat the issues that can lead to homelessness.
“We will continue our work until no veteran has to sleep on the streets,” said then Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Sloan D. Gibson in a June 26, 2014, VA press release. “We have made significant progress toward our goal to end veterans’ homelessness. That progress would not have occurred without the important work of GPD Special Need grantees and other local partners.”