BAINBRIDGE – Today, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) announced that four entities that serve OH-14 were awarded $6,228,074 to help end veteran homelessness. Frontline Service, which serves Ashtabula, Cuyahoga and Lake Counties, received $1,901,536, Family and Community Services, Inc, which serves Ashtabula, Geauga, Portage, Summit and Trumbull Counties, received $868,561, Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio, which serves Cuyahoga County, received $3,159,140, and Community Support Services, which serves Summit County, received $298,837.

“While there has been significant progress in reducing veteran homelessness over the last decade, it’s estimated that on any given night, nearly 40,000 veterans across the country are sleeping on the streets, in shelters, or in tents and stairwells,” said Joyce. “That is simply unacceptable. We cannot allow the brave men and women who have so selflessly served our country to slip through the cracks. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I remain committed to ensuring the VA has the resources it needs to bring an end to veteran homelessness, and will continue to work across the aisle to improve services that lift veterans out of poverty and provide them with the tools they need to live happy, healthy and successful lives.”

This grant funding was provided under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program (SSVF). The SSVF Program provides thousands of low-income veteran families across the nation with access to case management and other assistance to rapidly re-house veterans who become homeless or prevent veterans from becoming homeless. In fiscal year (FY) 2019, SSVF served 105,156 individuals, including 70,524 veterans and 20,608 children.As a result of these and other efforts, veteran homelessness has been cut in half since 2010’s launch of the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. You can visit VA homeless SSVF to view the entire list of 2020 grantees and to learn more about the program.

Joyce has consistently supported legislation aimed at boosting efforts to end veteran homelessness. In March, he voted for the CARES Act, which provided $14,432,000,000 to prevent, prepare for and respond to the coronavirus, including support to veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Previously, Joyce voted for H.R.1865, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, which became law in December of 2019 and provided $1,847,466,000 for homeless assistance programs, including $380,000,000 for the SSVF Program.

Additionally, Joyce cosponsored H.R. 3749, the Legal Services for Homeless Veterans Act, which would help provide the resources necessary to assist veterans resolve their legal issues so they can get back on their feet and get back to being an integral part of their community. Specifically, this bipartisan bill directs the VA Secretary to provide grants to organizations that deliver legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness. You can read the full bill text here.

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