Pryor, Boozman, Griffin Announce Grant for Little Rock Homeless Veterans Shelter
WASHINGTON – October 17, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senators Mark Pryor and John Boozman, along with Congressman Tim Griffin (AR-2), today announced that St. Francis House received a grant for $183,750 from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to continue providing services for chronically mentally ill homeless veterans in Little Rock.
The funding comes from VA’s Grant and Per Diem Program (GPD) Special Need Grants which allows organizations to continue providing housing and necessary services to homeless veterans who have special needs, including women, frail elderly, terminally ill, chronically mentally ill and individuals who care for minor dependents.
“The St. Francis House provides veterans a safe place to live, as well as the other essential services, to improve the livelihood of homeless veterans,” Pryor said. “I’m grateful this grant will help enhance the exceptional care they provide to our nation’s heroes.”
“St. Francis House has track record of providing exceptional services for homeless veterans including transitional housing, meals and employment counseling,” Boozman said. “This grant will help ensure the facility can continue to assist homeless veterans struggling with mental illness, a population that needs the type of unique, quality care that St. Francis House provides.”
“It is our duty as a nation to take care of the people who sacrificed for our country and our freedom. This funding is critically important to reduce veteran homelessness and provide assistance to homeless veterans with special needs at St. Francis House in Little Rock,” Griffin said. “We must continue working to ensure our nation’s heroes get the support, care and benefits they have earned and deserve for their service.”
As a key component of VA’s plan to eliminate homelessness among veterans, GPD Special Needs Grants funds community agencies that provide services to homeless veterans. The program promotes the development and provision of supportive housing and services with the goal of helping homeless veterans achieve residential stability, increase their skill levels and income, and obtain greater self-determination. Recognizing that a “one-size fits all” approach would not serve the needs of homeless veterans who require more intensive interventions, the GPD Special Need Grant was established.
GPD Special Need funding allows grantees to provide transitional housing to the most vulnerable homeless veterans while working to transition them to permanent housing.
