The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced more than $46 million in grants to organizations in Washington and Idaho aimed at combating veteran homelessness. The funding, part of the VA’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, will help veterans and their families access stable housing, health care, and other essential services.
Eight organizations in Washington will share $35.5 million, while four organizations in Idaho will receive $11.1 million. These grants are part of $818 million in nationwide funding that the VA has dedicated to supporting veterans who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes during fiscal year 2026.
Washington and Idaho Organizations Receiving Grants
The funds will be distributed among community-based organizations with proven track records of helping veterans in need.
Washington recipients include:
- YWCA of Seattle — $1,469,107
- Sound — $5,558,597
- Opportunity Council — $2,054,487
- Catholic Community Services of Western Washington — $6,665,792
- Hopesource — $3,297,353
- Transition Projects Inc. — $7,094,701
- Blue Mountain Action Council — $3,222,578
- Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest — $6,199,510
- Idaho recipients include:
- El-Ada, Inc. — $648,459
- Homeless Veterans Fellowship — $1,043,540
Comprehensive Support for At-Risk Veterans
The SSVF program provides a wide range of assistance to keep veterans and their families housed. Services funded by the grants include:
- Housing placement and counseling
- Access to health care
- Financial planning and budgeting
- Legal assistance
- Transportation support
- Child care services
“Supportive services like child care, housing counseling and financial planning can be important catalysts for preventing or resolving homelessness,” said Teresa Boyd, director of Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 20. “These grants will help bring crucial support to thousands of Veterans in need across the nation.”
Part of a Broader Nationwide Effort
The VA awards SSVF grants based on factors such as community need and the applicant’s track record in helping veterans. The program has three main goals:
Preventing the imminent loss of a veteran’s home
Helping veterans secure new, suitable housing
Rapidly re-housing homeless veterans and their families
As part of its larger homelessness initiative, the VA reported that it housed 37,534 homeless veterans between October 2024 and June 2025.
Recent VA Improvements Highlight Progress
The grant announcement comes as the VA touts a series of reforms and achievements made since January 2025, including:
Backlog reductions: The number of veterans waiting for benefits is down by more than 45%.
Expanded access to care: 17 new health care clinics have opened, with nearly 1 million appointments offered outside normal hours.
Infrastructure investments: More than $800 million committed to improving VA facilities.
Claims processing record: The VA has processed 2.52 million disability ratings claims so far in FY25.
Non-VA care access expanded for enrolled veterans.
Survivor benefits streamlined, making it easier for families to access earned support.
Electronic health record modernization accelerating nationwide.
Billing recovery partnership with CMS, reclaiming $106 million in duplicate claims.
Workforce reintegration: Tens of thousands of VA employees have returned to offices to strengthen collaboration.
A Step Toward Ending Veteran Homelessness
Homelessness remains one of the most urgent challenges facing veterans, with many struggling to secure stable housing due to financial instability, health issues, or service-related conditions. By channeling resources through trusted community partners, the VA hopes to expand local capacity and ensure more veterans receive timely, effective assistance.
The department emphasized that these investments are not only about housing but about restoring stability and dignity to veterans who served the nation.
At Veterans Guide, we are committed to helping veterans secure the benefits, housing, and support they’ve earned. If you or a loved one is at risk of homelessness, reach out to us today to learn how we can help you navigate VA programs and services.
