VA Homeless Programs

Program Description

VA's Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program is offered annually (as funding permits) by the Department of Veterans Affairs to fund community agencies providing services to Veterans experiencing homelessness. The purpose of the transitional housing component of the program is to promote the development and provision of supportive housing and services with the goal of helping homeless Veterans achieve residential stability, increase their skill levels and/or income, and obtain greater self-determination. Additionally, the GPD Program offers Case Management grants to support housing retention for Veterans who were previously homeless and are transitioning to permanent housing.

Operational costs, including salaries, may be funded by the per diem component. For supportive housing, the maximum amount payable under the per diem is $68.64 per day per Veteran housed. Veterans in supportive housing may be asked to pay rent if it does not exceed 30% of the Veteran's monthly-adjusted income. In addition, "reasonable" fees may be charged for services not paid with per diem funds. The maximum hourly per diem rate for a service center not connected with supportive housing is 1/8 of the daily cost of care, not to exceed $8.58 per hour. Payment for a Veteran in a service center will not exceed 8 hours in any day.

Applications are only accepted in response to a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) published in Grants.gov. Funds will be awarded to programs determined to be the most qualified. Chelsea Watson is the director of the GPD Program. Ms. Watson and the GPD team may be contacted via email at GPDgrants@va.gov. 

Special Need Award Announcement

VA Awards over $800 million in grants to help homeless and at-risk Veterans and their families
Read the article here

Grant Applicant Resources

          - FY2025 Special Need Award List (August 2024)
          - FY2025 Special Need Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) published 2/2/2024
          - FY2025 Special Need NOFO FAQ's
          - FY2025 Special Need NOFO Webinar
          - FY 2022 Special Need NOFO published 3/4/2021
          - FY2022 Special Need Award List (March 2022)
          - Sample Special Need Letter of Support
          - Sample Terms and Conditions (March 2023)

- Electronic Grants Management System (eGMS) Login Page
          - How-to: Add or Update Contacts in eGMS 
- Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) (NOTE: first download and save any SF PDF files to your computer and then open it from the saved location)
          - Instructions for SF-424
- Certification of De Minimis Indirect Cost Rate
- Indirect Cost Rate Guide
- Max Service Intensive Transitional Housing (SITH) Bed Calculator
- Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B) - (for awareness, applicants are not required to submit the SF-424B)
- GPD Regulations (38 CFR part 61.0)

GPD Grants & Funding Fact Sheet

Access our GPD Fact Sheet here to learn more.

GPD Works! Success Stories

   Feature Article:

- How VA's Grant and Per Diem Program Reduces Long-Term Homelessness Among Veterans

   Good News Stories:

- How GPD Has Evolved to Meet Veterans’ Needs - VA Homeless Programs

- “I only dreamed of this.” VA program finds Veteran Lorenzo Campbell a home - VAntage Point

- VA and Volunteers of America help Veteran Robert Irvin go from homeless to home - VAntage Point

- Army Veteran finds employment and housing in months thanks to HUD-VASH - VAntage Point

Active GPD Awards

Special Need Award List (August 2024)
Per Diem Only (PDO) Award List (October 2023)
Transition In Place (TIP) Award List (October 2023)
Case Management Award List (October 2023)
Capital Grant Awards List (Published March 2022)
Special Need Award List (March 2022)
Capital Grant Awards List (Published August 2021)

Helpful Resources

 Grants.gov *
 Federal Register *
Electronic Uniform Administrative Requirements (2 CFR part 200) *
 GPD Provider Webpage
eGMS Login Page *

Other Sites of Interest