The North Dakota Coalition of Homeless People in Bismarck will receive a $600,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help prevent and end homelessness among veterans.
North Dakota's congressional delegation announced the grant Tuesday.
The N.D. Coalition of Homeless People will use the grant to provide services to about 200 participant households throughout the state.
"It is shame that those who have bravely served our nation are sleeping on the streets. They had our backs, and now we must repay their service by providing them with the support they earned," the delegation said in a joint statement. "This grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs will help the North Dakota Coalition of Homeless People provide much-needed services to homeless veterans across our state."
Veterans comprise roughly eight percent of the U.S. population, but account for about 12 percent of all homeless persons nationwide. There are more than 50,000 veterans in N.D., and it is estimated that close to 900 of them are homeless.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched the new Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program with nearly $60 million in grant awards to homeless service agencies in 40 states and the District of Columbia. The program aims to improve housing stability for very low-income veteran families. Grantees, which include private, nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives, will provide a range of supportive services to at-risk veteran families, including outreach, case management, and assistance in obtaining VA benefits.
The N.D. Coalition for Homeless People is an organization of service providers that works to address homelessness in N.D.
Formed in 1989, the organization develops supportive housing for homeless individuals and families, works to prevent further homelessness, improves access to services for the homeless, advocates for local initiatives to improve housing and services for the homeless, and gathers and disseminates data on homelessness in North Dakota.