Federal Grants for Homeless Veteran Service Providers

Department of Veterans Affairs

Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program

VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program is offered annually (as funding permits) by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) program to fund community agencies providing services to homeless veterans. The purpose is to promote the development and provision of supportive housing and services with the goal of helping homeless veterans achieve residential stability, increase their skill levels and income, and obtain greater self-determination.

Only programs with supportive housing (up to 24 months) or service centers (offering services such as case management, education, crisis intervention, counseling, etc.) are eligible for these funds. The program has two levels of funding: the Grant component and the Per Diem component. 

Grants: Limit is 65% of the costs of construction, renovation or acquisition of a building for use as service centers or transitional housing for homeless veterans. Renovation of VA properties is allowed; acquiring VA properties is not. Recipients must obtain the matching 35% share from other sources. Grants may not be used for operational costs, including salaries.

Per Diem: Priority in awarding the Per Diem funds goes to the recipients of grants. Non-grant programs may apply for Per Diem under a separate notice, published in the Federal Register, announcing the funding for “Per Diem Only.” Operational costs, including salaries, may be funded by the Per Diem component. For supportive housing, the maximum amount payable under the per diem is $34.40. Veterans in supportive housing may be asked to pay rent if it does not exceed 30% of the veteran's monthly-adjusted income. In addition, "reasonable" fees may be charged for services not paid with Per Diem funds. The maximum hourly per diem rate for a service center not connected with supportive housing is 1/8 of the daily cost of care, not to exceed the current VA State Home rate for domiciliary care.  Payment for a veteran in a service center will not exceed 8 hours in any day.

Applications are not accepted for Capital Grants or “Per Diem Only” funding until the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) is published in the Federal Register. Funds will be awarded to programs determined to be the most qualified. The contact person for the Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program is Roger Casey, Program Manager, VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, Department of Veterans Affairs, 10770 N. 46^th Street, Suite C-100, Tampa, FL 33617; telephone (toll-free): 1-877-332-0334; E-mail: roger.casey@mail.va.gov.  

For more information on the Grant and Per Diem Program click here.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Grant and Per Diem Program 
Download GPD Regulations

Sample Per Diem Application

Department of Labor,

Veterans Employment and Training Service

Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program

The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) provides services to help place homeless veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force, and to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans.

Eligible applicants include state or local workforce investment boards; public agencies; for-profit/commercial entities; and nonprofit organizations including faith-based and community-based organizations. All HVRP grants are awarded competitively on an annual basis with optional year funding (1 or 2 years), based on availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

All HVRP grants are employment focused and must have an outreach component. Services provided will be directed toward increasing the employability of homeless veterans through training or arranging for the provision of services which will enable them to work; matching homeless veterans with potential employers; and creating, expanding and utilizing linkages for appropriate services and training opportunities.

Incarcerated Veterans’ Transition Program

The Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program (IVTP) is a new grant category for FY 2004. IVTP is a pilot program authorized under 38 United States Code, Section 2022, as added by Section 5 of Public Law 107-95, the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001. The program is funded under HVRP; there is no separate funding authorization. Pilot program grantees provide direct services through a case management approach while networking with federal, state and local resources and veteran support programs to help previously incarcerated veterans re-enter the workforce. Assistance is provided to veterans within 18 months of their release from a correctional facility.

Stand Down Events

HVRP Grantees are expected to attend and participate at all local Stand Down events. DOL-VETS allows HVRP Grantees to dedicate up to $10,000 per year of their existing grant budget to support Stand Down efforts. DOL-VETS also awards up to $10,000 upon request in support of Stand Down programs, if funding is available. The funding level for FY 2008 through 2010 is $400,000.

Application packet content requirements:

• Cover letter requesting funds
• SF 424
• SF 424A
• Budget narrative
• Letters of support (especially from DVOP/LVERs, VA, HUD, and veterans service organizations)

Funding must be used to enhance employment and training opportunities, or promote “self-sustainment” for homeless veterans. Funds may be used for food items, prepared meals, bottled water, clothing (including shoes, boots, underwear, socks, coats), sleeping bags, personal hygiene care kits, facility and tent rentals, transportation to and from the Stand Down, event publicity, etc.

Send completed application packet to your State Director for VETS for consideration. A list of state directors is available at www.dol.gov/vets/aboutvets/contacts/main.htm. The VETS state director makes recommendations and forwards applications to the Regional Office, which then submits them to the DOL-VETS National Office in Washington, D.C.

Veterans Workforce Investment Program (VWIP)

Authorized under Public Law 105-220, Workforce Investment Act, Section 168, grants support employment and training programs that meet the needs of veterans with service-connected disabilities, veterans who have significant barriers to employment, veterans who served on active duty in the armed forces during a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, and recently separated veterans (within 48 months of discharge).

VWIP objectives are to provide services to help veterans re-enter the workforce; develop new and creative service delivery systems that address the complex employment problems facing veterans; or support outreach efforts to address systemic problems.

For more information, go to DOL VETS website at www.dol.gov/vets.  Click on “Grants and Contracts,” or “Homeless Veterans.”  See DOL-VETS’ “Guide to Competitive and Discretionary Grants.”

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