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.
