California will receive nearly $15.7 million to help veterans find and secure housing according to an announcement by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs earlier this week. This is part of the USDVA’s nearly $100 million in grants that will help approximately 42,000 homeless and at-risk veterans and their families. These grants are being distributed to 151 community agencies in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. California will receive $2,975,174 in new grants and $12,686,712 in renewal grants for a total of $15,661,886.

“We are very happy that California will receive almost $3 million additional funding to help veterans break the cycle of homelessness,” said Peter J. Gravett, Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet). “These new funds will help more than 500 veteran households secure housing. In addition, the Golden State will receive more than $12.7 million in renewed awards to community-based organizations already working toward helping veterans find and secure housing.” (See attachment for breakdown of awards throughout California.)

“We are committed to ending veteran homelessness in America,” said U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “These grants will help the USDVA and community organizations reach out and prevent at-risk veterans from losing their homes.”

Under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, the USDVA is awarding grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that provide services to very low-income Veteran families living in -- or transitioning to -- permanent housing. Those community organizations provide a range of services that promote housing stability among eligible very low income veteran families.

Under the grants, homeless providers will offer Veterans and their family members outreach, case management, assistance in obtaining USDVA benefits and assistance in getting other public benefits. Community-based groups can offer temporary financial assistance on behalf of veterans for rent payments, utility payments, security deposits and moving costs.

This is the program’s second year. Last year, the USDVA provided about $60 million to assist 22,000 veterans and family members nationally.

In 2009, President Obama and Secretary Shinseki announced the federal government’s goal to end veteran homelessness by 2015. The grants are intended to help accomplish that goal. According to the 2011 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress, homelessness among Veterans has declined 12 percent since January 2010.

Through the homeless veterans initiative, the USDVA committed $800 million in Fiscal Year 2011 to strengthen programs that prevent and end homelessness among veterans. The USDVA provides a range of services to homeless veterans, including health care, housing, job training, and education.

More information about the USDVA’s homeless programs is available on the Internet at www.va.gov/homeless. Details about the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program are online at www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp.

For California specific information, please visit CalVet’s website at www.calvet.ca.gov and click on the “Vet Services” tab at the top of the homepage or call 877-741-8532 toll-free.

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