The Department of Veterans Affairs, also known as the VA, has announced that it will be awarding $42 million in grants to organizations around the country that give legal support to homeless veterans. Sadly, homelessness is an especially common issue among veterans, due to a variety of factors that can make it hard for them to hold down a job or maintain their lifestyle. Grants like these are meant to help veterans struggling to keep a roof over their heads by providing them with legal services to avoid losing their homes.
What Are These Grants?
These grants are awarded through the VA’s Legal Services for Veterans Grant Program, which helps homeless veterans by giving them assistance with various legal issues that may make it more difficult to obtain or maintain housing. This includes assisting with landlord-tenant disputes, providing representation in foreclosure proceedings, and assisting with family law matters like child custody or child support. It also helps veterans dealing with criminal matters that may impair their ability to maintain employment.
Why Are They Being Awarded?
These grants are part of an effort to help combat homelessness among the veteran population. Veterans suffer a substantially higher rate of homelessness compared to the average citizen, which can make it harder for them to obtain work or care for any medical conditions they have. Ensuring veterans have a roof over their heads is, therefore, essential to keeping them healthy and safe.
Why Do Veterans Struggle With Homelessness?
Among other things, veterans suffer a high rate of homelessness due to a significantly higher rate of certain disabilities. These include things like hearing loss, musculoskeletal disorders, and psychological conditions such as PTSD, all of which can impair their ability to work or pay a lease or mortgage. Veterans also tend to struggle with issues like drug abuse, which can put them on the wrong side of the law and make it even harder for them to remain in a home.
Why Does This Matter?
Programs like these are essential for helping homeless veterans, especially veterans with disabilities, to maintain a healthy and productive lifestyle after they leave their military service. For veterans and their family members, these kinds of services can mean the difference between having a roof over their heads, and sleeping in the street. It can also help them to obtain benefits to help them pay their bills and get the treatment they need for any medical conditions they may have from their time in the service.
The attorneys of Sullivan & Kehoe place a special focus on assisting disabled veterans. Our veterans’ disability lawyers are still available for remote consultation on your legal issues. Call our office at (800) 395-7830 to schedule a consultation in our New York City, Garden City, Kings Park, Riverhead, or White Plains office, or visit our contact page.
