Merkley Announces $1.3 Million Federal Grant for Homeless Veterans in Portland Metro Region

Portland, OR – July 29, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today announced $1.3 million in new funding for Transition Projects Inc., to help homeless veterans and their families find housing and other services to get them back on their feet. This funding comes from the Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) program within the Veterans Administration (VA).

After noticing that Oregon had only received one SSVF grant in 2011, Senator Merkley’s office convened a meeting of veterans and housing advocates to let them know about the SSVF program and the opportunity for future grant opportunities to help Oregon veterans. In the following years, Oregon grant funding has dramatically increased. In 2012, organizations in Oregon received six grants totaling $2.5 million and Oregon was the second highest awarded state, behind only Florida.

“Too many of our heroes are coming home from overseas tours and are dealing with tremendous challenges getting back into their civilian life. And too many of those heroes end up losing their homes and sleeping in shelters or on the street,” said Merkley. “This grant will help get our veterans secure the help they need to get back on track and a roof over their heads.”

Under the SSVF program, the VA provides grants to community-based organizations to promote housing stability among very low-income veteran families who reside in or are transitioning to permanent housing. These grants provide eligible veteran families with outreach, case management, and assistance in obtaining VA and other benefits.

In 2012, Transition Projects received a SSVF grant of over $450,000 and in the last year they have helped 140 veterans and their families find housing or provide services to get them back on their feet. With this new grant funding of $1.3 million, they hope to help at least 280 veteran families living in Portland and the surrounding metro region.