Menendez, Lautenberg Announce $1.2 Million To Help NJ Homeless Veterans Find Permanent Housing

Temporary Housing Will be Provided in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester & Mercer Counties

Newark – September 20, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded Volunteers of America of Delaware Valley $1.2 million through its Grant and Per Diem (GDP Program) to provide temporary housing — a daily average of 25 beds — for homeless veterans in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer counties.

“No man or woman who has risked their life to serve our country should be living on the streets or searching for shelter,” said Menendez. “This funding will help ensure our New Jersey heroes and their families have the shelter, services and support that they need and deserve. And as long as I am in the Senate, I will continue fighting to ensure that we are living up to our duty to adequately take care of our veterans.”

“It is unacceptable for any veteran in America to live without a roof over their head and this federal funding will help struggling New Jersey veterans find housing,” stated Lautenberg, an Army veteran. “As a veteran, I will continue to prioritize our veterans and help ensure they have access to the housing, jobs, health services, and educational opportunities that they earned and deserve.”

President and CEO of Volunteers of America of Delaware Valley Daniel Lombardo said: “We are grateful to the hard work of Senator Menendez and Senator Lautenberg as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs for their generosity in helping us get one giant step closer to achieving our goal of helping veterans in need. This grant will enable us to provide meaningful assistance to the brave members of our community who served this country valiantly but are now struggling to find affordable housing.”

GDP funds are being awarded to incentivize organizations, including Volunteers of America of Delaware Valley, to use a “Transition in Place” model to promote increased housing stabilization. By quickly transitioning a Veteran from temporary to permanent housing, more Veterans can be served and exit homelessness.

The GPD program helps to close gaps in available housing for the nation’s most vulnerable homeless Veterans, including women with children, Indian tribal populations, and Veterans with substance use and mental health issues. Community-based programs funded by GPD provide homeless Veterans with support services and housing. For more information on the program, visit: http://www.va.gov/homeless/GPD.asp.

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Press Contact

Menendez Press Office: (202) 224-4744
Lautenberg Press Office: (202) 224-3224