LOCAL NEWS

$1 Million Grant Boosts Program To Help Veterans Keep Their Homes

Aug 14, 2020, 7:28 PM | Updated: Aug 15, 2020, 7:50 am

Resources for Veterans Experiencing a Housing Crisis

If  you served in the U.S. Military and are experiencing a housing crisis, there are resources available. You can contact the Road Home’s SSVF team at 801-918-3278 or 801-793-5043, or by email at veterans@theroadhome.org. You can also contact the US Department of Veteran Affairs Homeless Outreach Team at 801-450-1762.


SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A program that aims to keep veterans in their homes has been a lifeline in our community over the past decade. That Veterans Affairs program, run by the Road Home, just got a $1 million grant to help Utah veterans.

There are 95 homeless vets in Salt Lake County as of Friday, and workers trying to get them into homes know most of them by name.

If not for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program, there would be many more homeless veterans needing help.

“I kind of grew up with the warrior mentality and it just kind of translated straight into the military,” said Jeffery Scott Moore, a Navy veteran who grew up in Salt Lake City.

When he was in the service, he said, the camaraderie was the most valuable aspect of his five years in the Navy. “Knowing there’s always someone at your back to help you up, and there’s always someone you can help, too,” said Moore.

He left the military with a disability and has struggled to keep a job. “I’ve kind of had quite a few bouts with homelessness and joblessness,” Moore said.

That’s where the father of five was a year ago. “I was sleeping in my truck off-and-on between my mom’s couch and my truck,” he said.

Money from the Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program helped his family get into a home before Christmas.

When they were on the verge of losing that home a few months later, the program helped him stay there. “It brings that huge sense of camaraderie that I had in the military that I miss the most,” said Moore.

The VA announced this week that the Road Home would receive another $1 million to help veterans avoid homelessness. A total of $400 million is being distributed nationally.

“Let’s get them housed, and then work on everything else once we’ve got you in a place – whether that’s employment or that’s mental health services. We just want to get you housed first, and we’ll take care of everything else,” said Meredith Vernick, veteran housing supervisor for the Road Home.

During the last five years, they helped 685 veterans find homes and kept nearly 150 vets from losing their homes.

In just the first three months of the pandemic, money from the program housed 27 veterans and kept 11 veterans and their families from losing their homes.

“We’ve been very busy during this pandemic,” said Vernick.

Busy helping improve lives.

“There’s nothing better than running into a human just in the community after they’ve been stably house for a while and getting to check-in,” she said.

“It lifts a huge burden off my back just knowing that no matter what, my boys are taken care of and I can worry about taking care of everything else,” Moore said.

They can help most veterans. Road Home’s SSVF team at 801-918-3278 or 801-793-5043, or by email at veterans@theroadhome.org.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Man being taken on stretcher to an ambulance figures blurred...

Lauren Steinbrecher

West Jordan man trying ‘to be funny’ allegedly shot and killed best friend

Investigators believe a joke between friends turned into the shooting death of a West Jordan man. The fatal mistake is also turning into a message police hope every gun owner can hear.

5 hours ago

Matt Gephardt meeting with Denis Hawkins after a rental car company after they ignored his calls fo...

Matt Gephardt

Get Gephardt helps Spanish Fork man clear up insurance claim for rental car damage

Get Gephardt clears up an international rental car insurance standstill.

5 hours ago

small housing units...

Debbie Worthen

Utah’s micro-shelter pilot program gets extension to help homeless

A micro-shelter pilot program will stay in place for at least six more months.

5 hours ago

A trench used for training a team of firefighters to be a part of Utah County's Special Response Te...

Shelby Lofton

Heavy Rescue school students respond to real-life emergency during trench collapse training

A team of firefighter students training to be on a Special Response Team rescued a man buried in a trench collapse the week they'd been studying trenches.

5 hours ago

The Cache County Council took up the e-mail controversy...

Mike Anderson

A single text stirs political fallout in Cache County election

A text message is blowing up into a whole lot of political fallout in Cache County.

6 hours ago

A map shows where the Chief Toquer reservoir will connect to the Ash Creek Reservoir....

Cary Schwanitz

Feds pour $7 million into southern Utah water pipeline project

A project to build a new pipeline that will run from the Ash Creek Reservoir to the Chief Toquer Reservoir received $7 million from the bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

6 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

$1 Million Grant Boosts Program To Help Veterans Keep Their Homes