Manchin, Rockefeller, Rahall Announce $2.6 Million to Help West Virginia Veterans in Need
Funding will strengthen programs statewide that prevent and end veteran homelessness
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Jay Rockefeller, along with Congressman Nick Rahall, today announced $2,620,000 in funding through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program to assist homeless veterans and their families in West Virginia. The program will provide outreach, case management, assistance in obtaining VA benefits and assistance in receiving other public benefits. The program will also provide rental, utility and moving assistance to veterans in need.
“Our courageous veterans have risked their lives defending this country, and the fact that many of them are living in extreme poverty is simply unacceptable,” Senator Manchin said. “It is because of their bravery that we enjoy the greatest liberties and freedoms in the world, and in return, we owe these heroes the absolute best treatment when they return home. These funds will not only provide our veterans and their families with the housing assistance they need and deserve, but it will also greatly help curb veteran homelessness in West Virginia.”
“Our veterans, who have given so much of themselves to defend our country, should never have to worry about where they will sleep. But too often, veterans – and their families – have ended up living on the streets after they return to civilian life,” said Rockefeller, the longest-serving member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “This funding award supports critical efforts to end homelessness among our veterans and goes a long way toward providing these men, women, and their families with a foundation for long-term stability. Giving veterans access to critical services, like housing assistance, must always be a top priority for our nation.”
“Every Veteran deserves safe and secure housing, and this funding will help local organizations and individuals in providing the necessary support services to achieve that goal. America’s policy must always be to leave no soldier, no veteran behind,” said Rahall.
More information about VA’s homeless programs is available at http://www.va.gov/homeless. Details about the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program are online at www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp.
The individual award amounts are:
• West Virginia Community Action Partnerships (Statewide) – $2,000,000
• Roark-Sullivan Lifeway Center (Cabell, Kanawha and Wayne Counties) – $298,300
• The Greater Wheeling Coalition for the Homeless (Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio and Wetzel Counties) – $133, 012
• Helping Heroes (Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio and Wetzel Counties) -- $188,688
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