As Veterans Day approaches, two Department of Veterans Affairs grant programs are in a new funding cycle aimed at keeping veterans housed and helping people without a place to live move toward stable housing. The department announced $1.17 billion in awards to 680 organizations in September. The grant terms began Oct. 1.
Preventing a loss of housing
About $855 million goes through Supportive Services for Veteran Families. The one-year grants support case management and other services that help eligible households avoid losing their housing or move quickly into a new home. That can mean working with someone who is still housed but at risk of losing their place, as well as helping someone who has already become homeless.
The distinction affects when a household should reach out. If a veteran is facing an imminent loss of housing, the prevention side of the program may be relevant before the household enters a shelter. A local provider can explain eligibility and what help it offers.
Temporary housing and the move to a permanent home
Another $318 million goes through the Grant and Per Diem program. The three-year awards support transitional housing and services. Some arrangements let a veteran remain in the same unit while receiving help intended to make the housing stable over the longer term. Others serve people with needs that make a standard shelter or housing placement a poor fit.
The programs address different problems. Prevention can help someone stay where they are. Transitional housing can give someone a place to live while they work toward a permanent arrangement. The VA’s guide to interim housing explains how those services fit together.
How to find help
Veterans who are homeless or at risk can call the VA’s National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. The federal announcement lists grant recipients. The award amounts describe funding for organizations, so availability and eligibility should be checked with the VA or a local provider.
One measure worth watching is whether veterans stay housed after receiving help. That is a separate question from how many people get a placement in the first place. Read our coverage of HUD’s national homelessness count for context on what a one-night tally measures.