Lowey, Maloney, and Engel Announce Grant to Help 400 Homeless Veterans and Their Families in the Hudson Valley

Press Release

U.S. Representatives Nita Lowey (NY-17), Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18), and Eliot Engel (NY-16) announced today that the Westchester Community Opportunity Program (WestCOP) will receive $1,916,631 from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prevent at-risk veterans from becoming homeless, and rapidly re-house those who have recently fallen into homelessness throughout Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, and Ulster Counties.

"No veteran who has put his or her life on the line so we may enjoy ours should ever face homelessness," said Lowey. "Community organizations like WestCOP help connect homeless veterans in the Lower Hudson Valley with the benefits they earned from a lifetime of service. As the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I fought for increased investments to help homeless veterans, and I will continue to take every step necessary to make sure our veterans get the support they earned."

"It is both tragic and shameful that thousands of veterans are homeless on any given night across New York and in the Hudson Valley -- as the son of a veteran, I know we can do better and this investment is a step in the right direction for the veterans in our community who deserve more from the country they fought so hard to defend," said Maloney, son of a Navy veteran. "Our work will continue until not even one veteran falls asleep on our streets."

Rep. Eliot Engel said, "Nearly 60,000 homeless veterans in the United States is not just unacceptable, it's unconscionable. The brave men and women, who have sacrificed so much for our country, deserve to return home from service to find a home and a job. These federal grants are vital to fulfilling that promise. The investment of nearly $2 million will help to prevent homelessness among veterans or help to re-house those who are homeless. It was a national disgrace that our veterans' healthcare was in such disarray. Just as we took action to provide better services, we must do everything we can to prevent homelessness among our veteran population. I commend WestCOP on their wonderful service and for everything they do to help our veteran community."

"WestCOP is excited to have been renewed for its Supportive Services for Veterans and their Families program in the amount of $1,916,631. WestCOP remains committed to serving our Veterans and the Veteran's Administration goal of ending Veteran homelessness. The critical intervention with our veteran families is a top priority in our mission of helping people and changing lives," said Kiron R. Dawkins, SSVF Program Manager and Regional Director of WestCOP.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that 57,849 veterans are homeless on any given night in the United States, including 4,659 veterans in New York. Although 7% of the general population can claim veteran status, nearly 13% of the homeless adult population are veterans.

In 2013, Representatives Lowey, Maloney, and Engel announced a $1.89 million investment in the Westchester Community Opportunity Program (WestCOP) intended to serve 450 families.

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