Stephen Center Awarded Federal Grant to Serve Homeless Veterans

Stephen Center Awarded Federal Grant to Serve Homeless Veterans

Stephen Center (stephencenter.org), a South Omaha-based homeless shelter, permanent supportive housing, and co-occurring treatment center, was recently awarded a federal grant through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Grant Per Diem (GPD) Program to serve homeless veterans. The VA’s GPD program provides funding to community organizations that provide transitional housing and supportive services for homeless veterans, with the goal of helping homeless veterans achieve residential stability, increase their skill levels and income, and achieve greater self-determination. The grant will allow Stephen Center to provide funding in the form of per diem beds in the HERO Addiction Recovery Program.

“We are very excited to have more GPD space for veterans,” said HERO Program Director Sharon Hughbanks. “They are a population that is underserved in our community.”

Stephen Center has received GPD funding since 2009. The new grant, effective October 1, increases the number of GPD funded beds at Stephen Center from three to five.

“No veteran should ever have to worry whether they will have stable housing, and these grants put us one step closer to ensuring all veterans are living in a safe and supportive environment,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilke.

Stephen Center is a sober campus of resources for mental health and addiction services. The clients they serve are the homeless, addicted, and in poverty. The campus includes a homeless emergency shelter, inpatient/outpatient co-occurring treatment, and permanent supportive housing for those with disabilities and low-income individuals. For more information, visit stephencenter.org.