St. Patrick Center Receives Significant Grant To Help Veterans And Their Families
St. Patrick Center announced today that, for the second year in a row, it received a $956,272 grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to help fund the agency's programs working with veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The renewal grant is part of the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, an initiative to prevent and end veteran homelessness. According to the 2011 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress, veteran homelessness has dropped 12 percent since January 2010.
"Congratulations to St. Patrick Center for being selected again for this national homeless prevention program," said Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri. "I want to personally thank President Obama and VA Secretary Eric Shinseki for their strong support of our community's efforts to lift up those who have served our nation and prevent their homelessness before it happens."
"The renewal of this grant will allow us to continue to provide critical, nationally-recognized services to veterans struggling with homelessness, unemployment and mental illness," said St. Patrick Center CEO Tom Etling. "We are incredibly grateful to Congressman Clay for his support of St. Patrick Center."
For more than 25 years, St. Patrick Center has focused on veterans, implementing effective programs and strategies to end their homelessness. Veteran-specific programs include the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, which just received another $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor; Project HERO and Veterans GO! Green. The agency in fiscal year 2011 helped 200 veterans find and retain full-time employment; placed 45 veterans into green jobs; placed 105 veterans into housing; and helped stabilize another 27 veterans in housing.
Under the SSVF program, now in its second year, the VA awards grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that provide a range of services to very low-income veteran families living in or transitioning to permanent housing. Nearly $100 million in grants were awarded to 151 non-profit community agencies in 49 states and will reach approximately 42,000 veterans and their families.
St. Patrick Center provides opportunities for self-sufficiency and dignity to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Individuals and families build permanent, positive change in their lives through safe and affordable housing, sound mental and physical health, and employment and financial stability.
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