U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Announces VA Grants for Wisconsin to Prevent and End Veteran Homelessness

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today applauded the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) after they announced over $3 million in awards for Wisconsin non-profits to help prevent and end veteran homelessness.

The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program grants will go to four Wisconsin non-profit organizations that provide veterans and their families’ support and assistance: Center for Veterans Issues, Limited; Veterans Assistance Foundation, Inc.; Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin, Inc.; and Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin, Inc.

In May, Senator Baldwin joined a bipartisan group of Senators in support of reauthorization of the SSVF Program. Grantees provide outreach and case management services; employment and training services; health care services; child care services; housing and daily living services; and assist participants to obtain VA benefits and other public benefits.

“We have a shared responsibility to meet the needs of veterans who served our nation and who are experiencing homelessness. Veterans are 50 percent more likely to experience homelessness than other Americans due to poverty, lack of support networks and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing,” said Senator Baldwin. “These grants to non-profit organizations in Wisconsin will empower them to be strong partners in providing veterans and their families’ critical assistance to acquire housing, employment, health care and to meet their daily living needs.”

VA data shows that 93 percent of veterans who receive assistance from this program acquire and remain in stable housing. 

In addition to supporting the SSFV program, Senator Baldwin has also cosponsored bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). The Homeless Veterans Welcome Home Act of 2015 would establish a national pilot program to provide furniture, household items, and other assistance to help homeless veterans as they transition into permanent housing.

“We at DAV Wisconsin are appreciative of Sen. Baldwin’s efforts in ending veterans’ homelessness by co-sponsoring the Homeless Veterans Welcome Home Act of 2015 and by requesting the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs reauthorize the Supportive Services for Veteran Program. The Senator’s efforts are an important step in helping to end this problem,” said Al Labelle, DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Wisconsin Legislative Director.

Wisconsin Grants under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program

Center for Veterans Issues, Limited, $ 2,000,000 (Serving Brown, Calumet, Columbia, Dodge, Door, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Marathon, Portage, Racine, Rock, Shawano, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago counties.)

Veterans Assistance Foundation, Inc., $ 619,140 (Serving Adams, Barron, Brown, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dodge, Dunn, Eau Claire, Green Lake, Jackson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Marathon, Marquette, Monroe, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rusk, Sauk, Shawano, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago and Wood counties.)

Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin, Inc. $322,500 (Serving Dane, Jefferson and Waukesha counties.)

Indianhead Community Action Agency $218,862 (Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Clark, Douglas, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor and Washburn counties.)