NEWARK, NJ – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-NJ) today announced millions in federal funding to help end veterans’ homelessness in New Jersey. The funding, provided through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), will go to organizations across the state that help very low income veterans with essential support services to help prevent homelessness.

“Our duty to our veterans is not just remembering their service and saying thank you one or two days a year – it is delivering on the promise of a grateful nation every day from the moment they come home,” said Sen. Menendez. “That is why I am so pleased to see this new round of federal investments go to fund efforts essential support services to New Jersey’s veterans in need and their families. I will always fight to ensure the wellbeing of our brave men and women who were willing to step forward in defense of what we hold dear.”

“It’s our obligation as a nation to ensure our veterans who put their lives on the line defending our freedom receive the care and respect they deserve,” said Sen. Booker. “Federal investments like this in New Jersey help fulfill our commitment to our bravest men and women by providing them much-needed housing assistance during difficult financial times.”

Under the SSVF program, the VA offers community-based organizations grants to promote housing stability among very low-income Veteran families who reside in or are transitioning to permanent housing. These grants will enable them to provide eligible veteran families with outreach, case management, and assistance in obtaining VA and other benefits and services.

Today’s announcement will reach New Jersey veterans through six organizations:

  • $3,035,661 to Community Hope, Inc. (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren)
  • $1,299,852 to Catholic Charities Dioceses of Camden, Inc. (Atlantic County, Camden County, Cape May County, Cumberland County, Gloucester County, Salem County)
  • $1,790,704 to Catholic Family and Community Service (Hudson, Essex, Bergen, Union, Passaic, Morris, Sussex)
  • $684,826 to North Hudson Community Action Corporation (Bergen, Hudson)
  • $6,839,861 to Soldier On, Inc. (Funding to be shared among 30 counties in N.J., N.Y., and Mass., including Mercer, Burlington, Middlesex, Ocean, Monmouth, Bergen, Essex, Hudson)
  • $2,047,411 to Veterans Multi-Service Center, Inc. (Funding to be shared among 15 counties in N.J., Pa., and Del., including Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Cape May, Salem)

SSVF served more than 157,000 participants in fiscal year (FY) 2015 and is on track to exceed that number in FY 2016. As a result of these and other efforts, Veteran homelessness is down 47 percent since the launch of the Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in 2010.

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