Salvation Army Announces Emergency Veterans’ Assistance Program

TYLER — The Salvation Army in Tyler has accepted $150,000 in grant monies through the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans Assistance Series XIV-B to provide emergency financial assistance to prevent and end homelessness for veterans and their families. The effort is known as the Emergency Veterans� Assistance Program. Salvation Army officials note that according to current national statistics, veterans are twice as likely as any other American to become homeless. The unemployment rate for recently discharged veterans is nearly 3 times the national average. In East Texas, according to the Salvation Army’s most recent Community Needs Assessment conducted by the East Texas Human Needs Network, 37% of veterans interviewed were living below the poverty line. 34% were living in temporary housing, and 8% were homeless. 71% stated that they were struggling financially.

Salvation Army officials say the EVAP goal is to rapidly transition program participants to housing stability through the clients� own means, links to community resources and mainstream benefits, and development of a plan to prevent future instability. The two program areas will include homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing with the goals of assisting veterans and their families to obtain and/or remain in permanent housing, achieve housing stability, and/or prevent future instability. Types of financial assistance include rent, utility, deposit, and mortgage assistance.

According to Salvation Army officials, it is important to note that 100% of this funding is providing direct assistance to veterans and their families. The administrative and operational costs of the program are being absorbed by The Salvation Army in Tyler. Officials say there is a great need for financial donations from the community to cover these costs and ensure that the Salvation Army can successfully prevent and end homelessness for veterans.

In order to receive financial assistance or services funded by the Texas Veterans Commission, veterans and their dependents must qualify for the program. Criteria include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Have an initial consultation with a case manager or other authorized representative.
2. The household must be at or below 100% of the area median income.
3. The household must either be homeless or at risk of losing housing with no appropriate subsequent housing options identified and lacking the financial resources and support networks needed to obtain immediate housing or remain in existing housing.

For more information or to make an appointment for initial screening, contact Indus McDuff, EVAP Case Manager, at 903-592-4361 ext. 77533.