Friday, July 27, 2012

Harbor Homes Awarded $1 Million Grant to Combat Homelessness among Veterans

NASHUA –
Harbor Homes in Nashua has been awarded a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S Department of Labor as part of the Supportive Services for Veterans Families Program, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) announced. The funding will allow Harbor Homes to provide employment, housing and VA benefits assistance to approximately 300 New Hampshire veterans and their families. Shaheen wrote a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki this past February in support of Harbor Homes’ grant application.

“Harbor Homes has a 32-year history of excellent service to New Hampshire’s homeless veterans, helping them find good jobs, fight substance abuse and get back on their feet,” said Shaheen. “Their wide presence in the state and strong connections to veterans service providers make Harbor Homes a terrific recipient for this grant. The organization has made an impact on the lives of so many Granite State veterans and I’m glad that they will have the opportunity to help so many more.”
“Harbor Homes is thrilled for all of the veteran families in NH who will benefit from this much-needed initiative,” said Peter Kelleher, CEO of Harbor Homes, Inc. “Many veterans have unique challenges to overcome as a result of hardships experienced during their military service that make it more difficult to reintegrate into New Hampshire’s communities without targeted interventions and supportive services. The Supportive Service for Veteran Families program will prevent or end homelessness amongst up to 300 low-income veteran households, and help the state achieve its goal to be the first state in the country to effectively end veteran homelessness.”
In 2004, Harbor Homes launched the Veterans First initiative to provide housing and support services to homeless New Hampshire veterans, and 175 households have since transitioned from this program into independent living.  Harbor Homes has also worked with the VA to help 168 veterans obtain employment through the Homeless Veterans Reintegration program.
According to the Government Accountability Office, between 423 and 600 homeless veteran households are located in New Hampshire and an additional 7,175 such households in our state are at risk of homelessness.  New Hampshire also has the third highest percentage in the nation of low-income veteran renter households with moderate to severe housing affordability problems.