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VA to award $1M grant to fight homelessness and improve transitional housing in Delaware

PRESS RELEASE

August 27, 2021

Wilmington , DE — VHA Homeless Program Office will award more than a $1 million grant to the Delaware Center for Homeless Veterans, Inc., under the Grant & Per Diem Program to combat homelessness.

The Grant & Per Diem Program (GPD) program provides funding to community organizations that provide transitional housing and supportive services for Veterans experiencing homelessness, with the goal of helping them achieve residential stability,  improve access to healthcare, greater community integration and engagement.

“The Grant and Per Diem program is integral to VA’s continuum of services and resources to help Veterans exit homelessness,” said Vince Kane, Wilmington VA Medical Center Director. “The newly awarded grant to the Delaware Center for Homeless Veterans, Inc., advances VA’s commitment to partner with community experts to better address the unique needs and circumstances of individual Veterans experiencing homelessness.

“This is just another way VA is working to end Veteran homelessness,” said Kane. “Earlier this month, we organized a landlord fair with Department of Housing  partners to educate local landlords on how to utilize HUD-VASH vouchers to permanently house Veterans. The pandemic has really highlighted the need for affordable housing and other supportive services across all segements of our society.”

GPD funding will support three different types of grants to address the unique needs of Veterans who are experiencing homelessness:

  • Capital Grants provide funding for community organizations through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020. The funding supports capital improvements to GPD transitional housing facilties. The improvements result in less congregate and more individual unit style housing, thereby improving personal safety and reducing risks associated with close quarters living for Veterans. 
  • Case Management Grants are used to support case manager positions within community organizations. These positions provide services to help Veterans retain housing stability, adequate income support and self-sufficiency.
  • Special Need Grants provide funding for community organizations that incur additional operational costs to help Veterans with special needs who are experiencing homelessness, including women, individuals with chronic mental illnesses and Veterans who care for minor dependents.

The GPD program has provided community-based transitional housing and supportive services since 1994. The number of Veterans experiencing homelessness in the U.S. has declined by 50% since 2010 resulting from the GPD program and other VA efforts.

A list of GPD grantees and nonprofit organizations seeking details about the program can visit: www.va.gov/homeless/gpd.asp.

Wilmington VA Medical Center provides health care services to approximately 33,000 Veterans through its main medical center and five community based outpatient clinics in Delaware and southern New Jersey. For more information, visit www.va.gov/wilmington-health-care/.

 

Media contacts

Susana Cebula, Public Affairs Officer

302-633-5389

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