WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow today announced a $69,480 investment to provide assistance to help end veteran homelessness in West Michigan. The assistance is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. The funding will go to the Kent County Housing Commission, which will work with the Battle Creek VA Medical Center and the Wyoming VA Health Care Center to support homeless veterans.
“Our men and women in uniform are willing to give the ultimate sacrifice to defend our country, and it is our duty to support and care for them when they return home,” said Senator Peters, a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. “On any given night, there are nearly 40,000 veterans across the country without a roof over their heads. This assistance will help homeless veterans in West Michigan find a permanent home, and help keep our promise to support our veterans and their families during and after their service.”
"Michigan's veterans put their lives on the line for the safety of our country and our citizens," said Senator Stabenow. "This support will help our heroes in Kent County find a permanent place to call home.”
The HUD-VASH program combines rental assistance vouchers from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by the VA to help homeless veterans find and keep permanent housing. VA Medical Centers are responsible for assessing homeless veterans and referring them to local housing agencies for rental vouchers. Vouchers are awarded based on an individual’s duration of homelessness and need for long-term support to maintain permanent housing.
Senator Peters strongly supports efforts to help Michigan veterans. The Senate recently passed his amendment to help veterans who may have been erroneously given a less than honorable discharge from the military due to behavior resulting from mental traumas such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). He has also called for continued funding for the Supporting Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program and the Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program that work to end veteran homelessness.
Senator Stabenow is committed to making sure veterans have the care and resources they need. For years, Senator Stabenow has led the fight to bring more VA clinics to Michigan so veterans don't have to drive hundreds of miles to receive medical treatment.
Additionally, Stabenow has long championed the issue of veterans' employment, including in her 2014 Farm Bill, which includes support for military veterans who are new to farming and ranching.
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