Tester Secures More Than $5.5 Million to Assist Montana Homeless Veterans

Senator announces federal funding for Volunteers of America Northern Rockies

U.S. Senator Jon Tester announced more than $5.5 million in federal funding to help end veteran homelessness in Montana.

The $5,547,842 grant will go to the Volunteers of America Northern Rockies (VOA), a service organization based out of Billings. Since 2012, VOA has worked with hundreds of veterans and their families to help provide housing services for homeless and at-risk veterans.

“Year after year, the Volunteers of America Northern Rockies consistently do their part in helping Montana’s men and women in uniform transition to civilian life,” said Tester. “This is especially important now, with some veterans and their families struggling to find safe housing during the pandemic. These federal funds are an important investment in our state’s veterans, and will help thousands of folks get back on their feet.”

The award is a portion of the more than $400 million Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grant administered by the VA. In fiscal year 2019, SSVF assisted more than 105,100 participants, including 70,500 veterans and 20,600 children.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Veteran’s Affairs Committee, Tester fought to include key provisions and funds in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to enable the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide additional support for vulnerable veterans—including programs to assist homeless veterans or those at-risk of becoming homeless. He also called on VA Secretary Robert Wilkie to implement these authorities quickly and efficiently, to provide much needed relief to veterans and their families.