The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is giving a million dollars to the Big Bend Homeless Coalition.
The organizations director Susan Pourciau says her agency plans to use the money to get homeless veterans in eight Big Bend counties into permanent homes and keep them there.
“We will hire outreach workers to go out into the woods and neighboring counties to engage veterans who are homeless," Pourciau said. "Once they’re engaged, we’ll have case workers who can help them navigate the system that exists in the VA and in their local community.”
Leon County saw an increase in its homeless population this year while statewide, rates are down. Pourciau says there are more than 150 homeless vets in Leon County alone. She expects the grant will help about 250 veterans in the Big Bend this year afford services such as rent and utility payments.
