Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
(9/19/2013 8:04 AM, Brigid Beatty)

Homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness in Armstrong County will soon receive housing assistance as a result of grant money expected to become available on Oct. 1.

“We’re excited about it because this is the first time we have a grant like this,” said Linda Cornman, deputy director of Armstrong County Community Action Agency.

Armstrong County is one of six counties — including Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Lawrence and Mercer — that will benefit from the grant for Supportive Services for Veterans Families.

The grant is funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs and totals $842,000. Armstrong County will receive $125,000 of that amount for a 12-month period, Cornman said.

She said Lawrence County Community Action applied for the grant and plans to apply for funds again next year.

According to Cornman, Armstrong County Community Action Agency knows of some veterans who would benefit from the grant, and the agency will be in communication with the county’s Veterans Affairs Office for referrals.

Cornman noted that her agency has a very good working relationship with state and local police who help identify homeless people in the community.

“Our hope is that the people who deserve help will get it,” Cornman said.

She said all applications for assistance will go through Community Action and that applicants will need to provide military discharge papers and meet program income guidelines.

“Our target number (of eligible applicants) is 25,” she said.

According to a news release provided by Armstrong County Community Action: “This regional housing model is designed to maximize limited funding by partnering with local Community Action Agencies to provide housing assistance and case management services to approximately 100 veterans within the six-county region who are experiencing a housing crisis.”