Tim Ryan
09/27/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/27/2022 11:29
Congressman Tim Ryan Announces $1 Million for Veterans’ Housing
Ravenna, OH- Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) is today announcing a U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant of $1,000,000 for Family and Community Services of Ravenna to work with Ride with Valor to modify and rehabilitate the homes of at least 50 low-income and disabled veterans throughout the state. The grant from the Veterans Housing Rehabilitation and Modification Pilot Program (VHRMP) Projects will include roof and window replacement, widening of interior and exterior doorways, heating, ventilation and air conditioning system upgrades, electrical and plumbing updates as well as the installation of energy efficient appliances and wheelchair ramps.
"The men and women who put their lives on the line for our freedoms should never have to struggle to put a roof over their head," said Congressman Ryan. "This funding will ensure our veterans who have faithfully served our nation are provided with the resources they deserve to live stable lives and regain financial footing. I thank all those at Family and Community Services for their important work and dedication to ending veteran homelessness."
"The funding from HUD will allow Family & Community Services, Inc. (FCS) to help low-income disabled veterans remain in their homes," said Matthew Slater, Director of Development for Family & Community Services, Inc. "The goal of owning a safe and livable home is a vital piece of the American Dream. Veterans put their lives on the line to protect our homes and deserve safe homes of their own. These renovations will modify their homes if needed for a disability and fix or replace roofs, windows, plumbing, and HVAC systems. FCS looks forward to rolling this program out with our partners Ride with Valor, Inc. in early 2023."
The purpose of the Veterans Housing Rehabilitation and Modification Pilot Program (VHRMP) is to explore the potential benefits of awarding grants to nonprofit organizations to rehabilitate and modify the primary residence of veterans who are low-income and have disabilities. The funds made available under this program will be awarded competitively. Several America's veterans who are low-income and have disabilities are in need of adaptive housing to help them regain or maintain their independence, are unable to fund significant home repairs, or are burdened by utility costs.
In partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, HUD designed the VHRMP to test a new approach to address these challenges in accordance with section 1079 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015. The VHRMP provides competitive grants of up to $1 million each to nonprofit organizations that provide nationwide or statewide programs that primarily serve veterans and/or low-income individuals. The grants may be used to modify or rehabilitate eligible veterans' primary residences or to provide grantees' affiliates with technical, administrative, and training support in connection with those services.