VA Awards Legal-Services Grants to Address Homelessness

This week, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awarded $26.8 million to 108 public and non-profit organizations, all with the goal of increasing access to legal services for veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

These funds, made available by VA’s Legal Services for Homeless Veterans and Veterans At-Risk for Homelessness Grant Program, more than double the total dollars and mark a 37% increase in grantees from last year’s inaugural grant cycle.

At least 10% of the funding is intended to support women veterans.

Grant recipients will use the funding to:

• Provide representation in landlord-tenant disputes to prevent eviction
• Assist with court proceedings for child support, custody, or estate planning
• Help veterans obtain benefits like disability compensation
• Defend veterans in criminal cases that can prolong or increase their risk of homelessness, such as outstanding warrants, fines, and driver’s license revocation
• Upgrade characterization of discharges or dismissals of former members of the Armed Forces

Read the full announcement.

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