Larsen Announces Grants Headed to Northwest Washington To Address Homelessness Among Veterans

WASHINGTON, D.C.— – (RealEstateRama) — Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) today announced that nearly $1.5 million in federal grants have been awarded to two Washington organizations to support their work to prevent homelessness among veterans.

Catholic Community Services of Western Washington received $784,064 and the Opportunity Council received $698,771 through the Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Services for Veteran Families program. The program supports organizations’ work to provide housing, outreach and other support services to veterans and their families.

“Too many veterans in Western Washington do not know where they will sleep from night to night,” said Larsen, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee. “These resources will enable local organizations to expand their work to provide veterans and their families with critical services such as housing and employment.”

“Catholic Community Services in Snohomish County served more than 90 veterans and their families in the last year through our Supportive Services for Veteran’s Families (SSVF) program,” said Will Rice, Vice President of Catholic Community Services of Washington. “The funding for this program provides essential services for homeless veterans living unsheltered or at risk for homelessness in Snohomish County. The SSVF program fills the gaps in the existing veteran’s service continuum in Snohomish County. Because of the flexible nature of this funding we are able to serve some of the most vulnerable veterans that do not qualify for the many veteran’s programs. We are very proud of the work that our SSVF team does visiting encampment and places where unsheltered veterans are living, providing rapid rehousing services, and helping our veterans access assistance so they never again have to return to living on the streets or unsheltered.”

“We are committed to serving veterans and their families by working to end veteran homelessness,” said Mike Parker, Director of the Whatcom Homeless Service Center at the Opportunity Council.  “This SSVF grant helps us honor that commitment. We appreciate Congressman Larsen’s support as we join in local, regional and national efforts to address this important issue.”

Catholic Community Services serves veterans in Snohomish County, and the Opportunity Council serves veterans in Island, Skagit, Whatcom and San Juan Counties.

More information about the grant awards is available here.