Defense Media Network

VA to Support Formerly Homeless Veterans with $30 Million in New Grants

By U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - September 9, 2019

Capt. Kory Garbelman, U.S. Army Human Resources Command (left); Lauren Sneed, Rex Robley VA Medical Center, voluntary service assistant; Master Sgt. Neil Van Cura, HRC and Brig. Gen. Twanda (Tia) Young, HRC deputy commanding general, unload a van full of household goods HRC Soldiers and staff donated to the VAMC, Dec. 10. The donation included pillows, towels, inflatable mattresses and other items, which will be distributed to homeless veterans who are transitioning into permanent housing.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will award $30 million under the new Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program Oct. 1, to 128 organizations to provide wraparound supportive services to Veterans who were previously homeless or at-risk of losing their housing.

The GPD case management grants improve housing retention among formerly homeless Veterans by providing an array of individualized services that promote housing stability.

“When Veterans transition from homelessness to permanent housing, some may need help readjusting to the routines and responsibilities of managing their household affairs,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “The case management grants announced today will help ensure that formerly homeless Veterans have the tools to remain in stable housing and successfully reintegrate back into their communities.”

The GPD case management grant program funds community organizations that provide these Veterans with resources, referrals and services, such as home visits to monitor their tenant responsibilities. This can include help with managing finances, using public transportation, planning meals and more. The grants were open to applications from organizations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. A list of grantees is available at https://www.va.gov/homeless/gpd.asp.

Recipients competed for the case management grants under a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) published March 21. The funding will support case management services from Oct. 1, 2019, to Sept. 30, 2021. This NOFA was the first for this new grant program, which was authorized under Public Law 114-315.

VA also recently renewed $2.4 million for 11 GPD special needs grants to fund operational costs for community organizations that serve the most vulnerable Veterans.