Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed California Comeback Plan includes a $25 million grant program tackling veterans homelessness. (Photo: Gage Skidmore)
Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed California Comeback Plan will include a new $25 million grant program for veterans, according to the California Department of Veterans Affairs.
If passed, the bill will establish the Veterans Support for Self Reliance program. This program, which will be administered by CalVet, is intended to help “aging veterans and veterans with disabilities who have experienced chronic homelessness.”
The program will provide additional on-site services for beneficiaries, such as improving “habitability,” encouraging mental health care, and providing support for early detection of cognitive disorders in aging veterans. The program will primarily focus on veterans that qualify for or are part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing Program, or HUD-VASH.
If approved, the program will fund these measures for three years. The announcement does not specify how funding will continue once the three-year period runs out.
The Veterans Support for Self Reliance program will be funded by the California Comeback Plan, which is currently awaiting approval by the state legislature.
Veterans Hit Hard by Pandemic and Economic Downturn
Homelessness among veterans, which is the chief concern for the new grant program, has increased dramatically since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last March. Veterans have been among the hardest hit demographics both nationally and in California, especially those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Assistance programs created by both the federal and state levels of government have attempted to mitigate financial disparity among veterans. Most recently, the California Employment Developmental Department offered $4.9 million in grants to organizations that participate in the Veteran’s Employment-Related Assistance Program.
California veterans can also contact The American Legion for free help in obtaining VA benefits.
Author: Christian Southards
Coming from a family with a proud military background and wanting to contribute his writing skills to a worthy cause, Christian began writing for the California American Legion in August of 2020. His father is a 25-year Army Veteran and his grandfather served in the Navy during Vietnam.
