The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it will fund 129 transitional housing beds for veterans who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of doing so in the District. The agency will disburse grants to three nonprofits in the D.C. area beginning on Oct. 2. Transitional housing is a temporary type of supportive housing meant to bridge the gap between homelessless and permanent housing.
The grants will go to Access Housing, Inc. in D.C.; the Chesapeake Health Program in Perry Point, Maryland; and the United States Veteran Initiative in D.C. Each works with the Washington D.C. VA Medical Center.
There are about 386 veterans experiencing homelessness in the area served by the medical center, which D.C. and parts of Maryland and Virginia, according to the press release. Veteran homelessness nationwide has decreased by 50% since 2010.
The VA’s Grant Per Diem (GPD) Office will manage the disbursement. Per Diem grants provide funding via reimbursements to organizations that handle veteran transitional housing during the grant award period.
“No veteran should ever have to worry whether they will have stable housing, and these grants put us one step closer to ensuring all veterans are living in a safe and supportive environment,” said Sha-Ron Haddock, who oversees the Washington D.C. VA Medical Center’s GPD Office.
