July 12, 2013 - Long Island, NY - U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that four organizations serving Long Island veterans are set to receive a total of $5,710,614 through the Veterans Affairs Supportive Services for Veteran Families program (SSVF) to serve approximately 1,550 participant veterans households on Long Island.
“The bottom line is that even one homeless veteran is one too many,” said Schumer. “These funds will help prevent homelessness amongst our nation’s heroes on Long Island and will serve over 1500 veterans throughout Nassau County and Suffolk County. I applaud the VA in their new Supportive Services for Veteran Families initiative to help veterans and their families find transitional and permanent housing.”
Black Veterans for Social Justice, Inc. was awarded $981,340 and expects to serve 200 participant households on Long Island and New York City. The organization seeks to help veterans receive quality medical services, find employment and housing and reintegrate into civilian society.
Volunteers of America-Greater New York, Inc. was awarded $1,457,000 and expects to serve 350 participant households on Long Island and New York City. The organization is a faith-based organization that seeks to help vulnerable individuals and families, including veterans, overcome challenges like homelessness and mental illness.
The Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, Inc. was awarded $1,272,274 and expects to serve 450 participant households. It is a minority community based organization that seeks to assist low income families, including veterans.
Services for the UnderServed, Inc. was awarded $2,000,000 and expects to serve 550 participant households. It seeks to help individuals and families, including veterans, facing challenging life situations like homelessness and unemployment.
The SSVF program is a new VA initiative that awards grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that will provide supportive services to low-income Veterans and their families residing in or transitioning to permanent housing. The grantees selected will provide a range of supportive services designed to promote housing stability.