Hirono Announces $2.1 Million in Federal Funding to Alleviate Veteran Homelessness

Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced a $2.1 million grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs for U.S.VETS – Barber’s Point, a Hawaii nonprofit organization dedicated to working with homeless and at-risk veterans. The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) funding will go toward U.S.VETS programs to help Hawaii veterans and their families to stay in their homes and find permanent housing.

“U.S.VETS – Barber’s Point is doing great work in Hawaii to end veteran homelessness, and this grant will help the organization continue to support Hawaii veterans and their families,” said Senator Hirono, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “I am proud to lead the bipartisan effort to protect this vital program, and will continue to work to ensure Hawaii organizations have access to this important funding.”

“SSVF funding is an important resource in our local community to assist our state in the fight to end veteran homelessness,” said Darryl Vincent, Chief Operating Officer of U.S.VETS – Barber’s Point. “This resource is valuable because it allows our organization to increase our homeless prevention efforts and to decrease the length of time a veteran is homeless on the streets.  U.S.VETS – Barber’s Point looks to partner with Catholic Charities Hawaii to serve nearly 500 veteran households in our state, including the neighbor islands. We are fortunate to have the support of Senator Hirono and her office to continue our mission of ensuring that every veteran has a stable place to call home.”

The SSVF funding will go toward U.S.VETS programs to assist veterans who have become homeless or are in danger of becoming homeless. Preventing homelessness before it happens is a key component of the program. Eligible services include assistance with rent, utility or moving costs, outreach, case management, and help with obtaining VA and other mainstream benefits.  Last year, Senator Hirono championed bipartisan legislation signed into law to save SSVF, and six other programs that would have expired in 2015.