Midwest Shelter Receives $444,000 VA Grant To Help Local Homeless and At-Risk Veterans and Their Families

The Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans announced that it has received a $444,000 Veterans Affairs grant to serve homeless and at-risk veterans and their families in DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall and Will counties. 

The grant is part of the VA's Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program that recently awarded nearly $300 million in grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that provide services to very- low-income veteran families living in – or transitioning to – permanent housing. The SSVF program supports VA’s efforts to prevent at-risk veterans from becoming homeless and rapidly re-house those who have recently fallen into homelessness. 

“The Midwest Shelter is honored to receive this SSVF grant award and we are excited about the opportunity to expand our services into more Illinois counties," said Pamela Kostecki, MSHV's director of operations.  "This program fits with our strategic priorities of increasing our geographic presence and extending our services to veterans' families.  MSHV is proud to serve more veterans who have honorably served this country and who now find themselves in need.”

Thanks to the SSVF grant, MSHV will provide a range of services that promote housing stability and play a key role in connecting veterans and their family members to VA services, such as mental health care and other benefits.  MSHV can also offer limited temporary financial assistance on behalf of veterans for rent payments, utility payments, security deposits and moving costs.

MSHV will also provide eligible veteran families with outreach, case management and assistance in obtaining VA and other benefits, which may include services pertaining to:  health and child care, daily living, personal financial planning, transportation, housing counseling and fiduciary and legal issues.   MSHV will begin accepting applications from qualified veterans for SSVF funds on Oct. 1.

The Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans is a non-profit agency based in DuPage County, Illinois that provides transitional and affordable housing, a comprehensive array of supportive services and community outreach to help homeless and at-risk veterans and their families achieve self-sufficiency.

Founded by veterans in 2007, the Midwest Shelter operates on a vision of no veteran left behind due to homelessness, joblessness, poverty and/or mental-health issues.  People interested in making a donation, volunteering or learning more about MSHV can visit www.helpaveteran.org or call 630-871-VETS (8387).