Homeless Veterans: Senator Murray Announces Funding for Homeless Prevention Across Washington State

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and the Senate Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that six state non-profit community agencies will receive homeless prevention grants in order to provide homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing assistance to veterans in Washington state. The grants are part of the Department of Veterans Affairs' Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program. The SSVF program aims to improve the housing stability of very low income veteran families by providing funding to private, non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives who in turn provide supportive services to veteran families living in or transitioning to permanent housing. Chairman Murray supported the expansion of this critical program by including it in Public Law 112-37, the Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act of 2011.

"This funding is a huge help for veterans and their families who are struggling to stay in their homes or to get into permanent housing," said Senator Murray. "With new servicemembers returning home every day and the economy sputtering, we must step up our efforts to provide all veterans with stable housing and the dignity that comes with it. We owe it to our veterans to provide them with the resources and support they need to keep a roof over their heads.

According to the VA, the SSVF Program Grantees provide eligible veteran families with outreach, case management, time-limited payments to landlords and utility companies, and assistance in obtaining VA and other benefits, which may include:

Health care services
Daily living services
Personal financial planning services
Transportation services
Fiduciary and payee services
Legal services
Child care services
Housing counseling services

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