Heitkamp Announces Federal Funding to Prevent & Combat Veteran Homelessness

BISMARCK, N.D. – September 15, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced more than $900,000 in federal funding for the North Dakota Coalition of Homeless People to support outreach, case management and flexible assistance to prevent and combat veteran homelessness across the state.

Specifically, these federal funds are awarded through the renewal of federal money made available through the Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) program. SSVF grants are available to veterans whose income is below 30 percent of the area medium income, and assists with finding permanent housing quickly without preconditions and providing supportive services as needed. These funds will also support outreach efforts to find and serve veterans in need, support case management, and assist veterans in obtaining Veterans Affairs and other public benefits.

“We need to make sure North Dakotans all across, no matter where they live, can access the support and services they need,” said Heitkamp. “Our veterans put their lives on the line to protect our country and it’s our responsibility to make sure they receive the support they earned when they return home. These federal funds will help provide and promote housing stability for the most economically vulnerable veterans, and the services they need to find a permanent place to call home. I’ll continue to fight for our veterans, just as they have so bravely and selflessly fought for us.”

Heitkamp began a series of speeches in March to honor servicemembers from North Dakota who lost their lives in the Vietnam conflict as our country marks the 50th anniversary of the war. She collaborated with more than 150 eleventh-graders from Bismarck High School to gather information on these fallen North Dakotans and incorporated their research into her speeches. Today in Bismarck, Heitkamp participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Heritage Center for an exhibit created with Bismarck High School students in honor of the North Dakotans who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Heitkamp met with these students in Bismarck last March and discussed with them the importance of their joint effort to honor the sacrifice and service of the North Dakotans lost in the war. Visit Senator Heitkamp’s website for more information about the project. Additionally in June 2014, Heitkamp voted to approve bipartisan legislation that will make many improvements to the Veterans Affairs health care system and improve care for all of our veterans.

These funds are authorized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.