LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) has announced that the MVAA, along with its partners, are working together to get homeless veterans off the streets and into housing with the help of some new funding. The Whitmer administration and the state legislature have allocated $2 million in the $81.7 billion FY 2024 budget that will distribute grant funding to organizations that provide services for veterans experiencing homelessness.
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Governor Whitmer said about the grant funding, “The latest bipartisan budget will ensure Michiganders who served our nation in uniform receive the resources and support they have earned. No one should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from or if they’ll have a roof over their head that night, especially veterans who have made put their lives on the line for our nation. I look forward to working with partners on both sides of the aisle, our community partners, and key stakeholders to support all those who have served and will serve.”
With more than 2,000 homeless military veterans in the state, help can’t come soon enough. The MVAA, which is facilitating the grant funding, held the first in a series of roundtables on veteran homelessness on July 25th in Detroit. A group of veteran advocacy groups attended the session to discuss ways to better serve homeless veterans and their families. The event was hosted by State Rep. Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor), chair of the House Department of Military and Veteran Affairs appropriations subcommittee.
Morgan says about the one-time budget allocation for grant funding, “The FY 2024 State Budget makes historic investments in our veterans. From new programs to reduce veteran homelessness and suicide, to infrastructure upgrades at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, this budget invests back into those who have served our country.” Still, he would like to see even more funding for veterans in future budgets.
MVAA Director Adam Hollier said about the work ahead of them, “Michigan’s veteran homelessness crisis is completely fixable, and we must do everything we can to solve it. We’re bringing together organizations and community members who work directly with this population to hear what tools they need to succeed so the MVAA can bridge that gap. These veterans have given so much for their country, and we must work together to make sure every veteran has a safe place to call home.”
According to the Homeless Management Information System, a U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) data collection program, there are 2,342 veterans experiencing homelessness in Michigan. But that number is likely much higher due to multiple factors, including lack of data and folks not identifying as veterans, said Erika Hoover, the MVAA’s women veterans and special populations coordinator.
Hoover said the MVAA is looking for new ways to fill gaps in the community that already exist to combat veteran homelessness. Veteran advocates with innovative ideas on how to distribute the grant funding can contact her at hoovere2@michigan.gov.
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The MVAA asks that any veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, to please contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 4AID-VET (877-424-3838) – or visit the VA Homeless Programs website.
