VA Funds Hawaii Agencies in Battle to End Homelessness

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The homeless population in Hawaii continues to rise Photo: Emily Metcalf
The homeless population in Hawaii continues to rise Photo: Emily Metcalf

HONOLULU – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald announced today the award of $2.1 million in homeless prevention grants to the Hawaii counties of: Honolulu, Central Oahu, Leeward Coast, North Shore, Windward Coast, Maui, Kauai, Kapolei and Hawaii. The grants will serve approximately 491 homeless and at-risk Veteran families as part of the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program.

This award will serve Veteran families associated with Catholic Charities Hawaii and United States Veterans Initiative, two of 301 community agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to receive grants.

“By working with community non-profit organizations, we have enlisted valuable partners in our fight to end homelessness,” McDonald said.

“The work of SSVF grantees has already helped thousands of homeless Veterans and their families find homes and thousands more have been able to stay in their own homes.”

As part of the SSVF program, VA awards 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 terms of the grants, homeless providers will offer Veterans and their family members outreach, case management, assistance in obtaining VA benefits and assistance in receiving 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.

VA estimates these grants will serve approximately 115,000 homeless and at-risk Veteran families nationwide.  This is the program’s fourth year.

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4 COMMENTS

  1. But we still have the VA,which is the cause of all the problems associated with,still running the program and dolling out the money.Congress should abolish the VA entirely and allow free market health care for these homeless veterans.

  2. Catholic Charities Hawaii and United States Veterans Initiative DO NOT HAVE ANY HOUSING; all they have are PRISON-LIKE SHELTERS.

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