Cohen Announces $422,000 in Funding to Fight and Prevent Veteran Homelessness

Funds will be used to prevent at-risk Memphis-area veterans from losing their homes and help re-house veteran families who have recently fallen into homelessness

WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 15, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) announced today that Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc., has been awarded $422,000 in funding to help prevent an estimated 100 local veterans and their families from falling homeless and find housing for those that already have. Today’s grant funding is through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program.

“Our nation’s veterans are heroes who risked their lives for our safety and security,” said Congressman Cohen. “Whether in Memphis or New York City, no one who puts their lives on the line for our freedom should live at risk of homelessness. Today’s funding will help us take an important step towards our goal of eliminating veteran homeless.”

In addition to today’s grant to a local veterans service organization, Congressman Cohen also highlighted the good work of Alpha Omega Veterans Services, Inc., in a recent newsletter sent to his constituents. The Memphis-based charitable non-profit provides food, clothing, transportation, career assistance, and transitional housing to help veterans reintegrate into society. Their staff also includes counselors, social workers, and nurses who are on hand to provide assistance to Memphis veterans. Constituents can sign up to receive the Congressman’s eNewsletter here.

Today’s announcement is part of more than $300 million that the Department of Veterans Affairs recently awarded to allow more than 300 community agencies help roughly 120,000 veterans across the nation. The Department’s SSVF Program supports efforts to prevent at-risk veterans from becoming homeless and rapidly re-house those who have recently fallen into homelessness.