Wyandotte Group Gets $600,000 to Help Veterans

A Wyandotte organization has received nearly $600,000 to continue its programs of helping homeless and at-risk veterans.

U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki announced Tuesday that $2.18 million was being awarded to Michigan organizations as part of the federal Supportive Services for Veteran Families program. The homeless prevention grants are earmarked to help more than 800 Michigan veterans and their families.

Of that, $590,929 was given to . The Wyandotte-based organization plans to use the money to assist about 125 veteran households throughout Monroe and Wayne counties.

Under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, nearly $100 million in grants were awarded nationwide to private nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives that provide services to very low-income veteran families living in, or transitioning to, permanent housing. The organizations provide a range of services that promote housing stability among eligible veterans.

Under the grants, homeless providers will offer veterans and their family members outreach, case management and assistance in obtaining benefits. Community-based groups also can offer temporary financial assistance for rent payments, utility payments, security deposits and moving costs.

The nearly $100 million in grants are estimated to help about 42,000 homeless and at-risk veterans nationwide. This is the program’s second year. Grants totaling about $60 million were given to assist 22,000 veterans and their family members last year.

In 2009, President Obama and Secretary Shinseki announced the federal government’s goal to end veteran homelessness by 2015. The grants announced Tuesday are intended to help accomplish that goal. According to the 2011 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress, homelessness among veterans has declined 12 percent since January 2010.

“We are committed to ending veteran homelessness in America,” Shinseki said in a written statement. “These grants will help VA and community organizations reach out and prevent at-risk veterans from losing their homes.”

For more information, check out www.va.gov/homeless and www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp.