The federal government today announced $15 million in grants for five communities near military installations around the country, including San Diego, for programs that provide housing assistance and supportive services to prevent homelessness among veterans.
Existing grantees and care organizations that serve Camp Pendleton, MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, Fort Drum in Watertown, N.Y., and Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Wash., will receive $2 million for each military installation, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
In addition, VA medical centers in San Diego, Tampa, Fla., Dallas, Texas, Syracuse, N.Y., and American Lake in Washington will each receive $1 million in grants, according to HUD.
"The men and women who serve our nation deserve better than a life on the streets when they return home," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "These grants represent a first step toward designing the best interventions possible so that we can prevent homelessness for those heroes who sacrificed so much for us."
The grants are intended to prevent veterans, especially those returning home from Iraq or Afghanistan, from becoming homeless by offering housing, health care and employment help.
