July 17, 2012

Manchin, Rockefeller Announce Grant to Help Homeless Veterans in WV

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin today announced almost $260,000 in federal funding that will help prevent homelessness among our nation’s veterans.

Through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program, the United States Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) awarded the Roark-Sullivan Lifeway Center, Inc. in Charleston with the federal funding. With this grant, the organization plans to continue to serve around 110 participant households in Kanawha, Cabell and Wayne Counties.

“Our brave service members have put themselves in danger to protect our country time and time again, and when they have completed their duty, they, nor their families, should live on the streets,” Senator Rockefeller said. “I have always fought for our veterans, and they deserve our support. This grant furthers my strong efforts to protect our military personnel from facing homelessness. We need to make sure that these brave men and women and their families have roofs over their heads and places to call home.” 

“The men and women who have served so bravely in the defense of our country deserve the very best in treatment and care, and even one veteran sleeping on the street is one too many,” said Senator Manchin, who recently met with a group of West Virginians at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial after they bicycled hundreds of miles for the Homeless Veterans Ride. “My total commitment has been to helping our veterans in any way we can, whether that is finding veterans a place to live or helping them get a job. I agree with VA Secretary Shinseki’s goal of eliminating homelessness among veterans, and those of us in West Virginia will use these funds to do everything we can do make sure our veterans have a place to live.” 

Award Background:

The VA funds are granted for the Fiscal Year 2012 through the SSVF Program. The grants are awarded to private, non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives, which will provide eligible Veteran families with outreach, case management and assistance in obtaining VA and other benefits. 

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