SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $3 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT HOMELESS VETERAN FAMILIES ACROSS ROCHESTER-FINGER LAKES AND WESTERN NEW YORK REGIONS
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Grants Help Low-Income, At-Risk Veteran Families By Providing Them With Services to Prevent Homelessness
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Funds for Veterans Outreach Center, Inc. & Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc., Which Serve Rochester & Western NY Communities
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $3,168,072 in federal funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for two organizations in the Rochester-Finger Lakes and Western NY areas that provide services to low-income, at-risk veterans and their families. The grants are being provided under the VA’s Support Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) program, which helps veteran families around the nation who are permanently housed or transitioning to permanent housing. The SSVF grant program provides access to crucial services to prevent homelessness for Veterans and their families. Specifically, the Veterans Outreach Center, Inc., a Rochester-based non-profit that serves veterans throughout Monroe, Livingston, Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Wayne and Ontario Counties will receive $2,097,483 to support its programs. In addition, the Dunkirk-based Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. will receive $1,070,589 to supports its programs aiding homeless veterans in Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming, Orleans and Niagara Counties.
“Even one homeless veteran is one too many. These brave men and women across Upstate New York put life and limb on the line to protect our country and it is our responsibility to look out for them when they return from active duty,” said Senator Schumer. “This smart federal investment will provide our at-risk veterans with the resources they need to ensure they have a place to call home. We owe it to our veterans to ensure they can find affordable, safe housing and stay off the streets after protecting the many freedoms we know and cherish.”
“These federal funds will give at-risk veterans in Upstate New York access to resources and support that can help them and their families find safe places to live and avoid homelessness,” said Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “No man or woman who has served in our military should be homeless here in New York. I will continue to work with my colleagues to help veterans in need and make sure all of our veterans thrive and have the continued opportunity to contribute to society.”
According to the VA, SSVF funding helps support outreach, case management and other assistance to prevent Veteran homelessness or rapidly re-house Veterans who become homeless. In FY2015, SSVF served more than 157,000 participants across the country.
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