ODVA Awards Grants

Oregon department of veterans’ affairs helps fund vital services and programs across oregon

By Tyler Francke, Veterans News Magazine

Photo: Divide Camp, located in the pristine wilderness of the Wallowa Mountains, was among the nonprofit organizations, government agencies and Tribal governments to receive funding.

Twenty-twenty was a historic year of unprecedented challenges, but it fully displayed the strength and resilience of the Oregon veteran community, as well as the creativity and doggedness of the hard-working veteran service officers, agencies and nonprofits who help veterans and their families.

The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs was grateful to be able to support and help expand on some of this important work with an additional round of funding this year for the Veteran Services Grant Program, which was earmarked for key projects to improve veterans’ access to transportation, housing, health care and other vital services across the state.

The purpose of the Veteran Services Grant Program is to provide services to Oregon veterans by expanding critical services for veterans within a community, region or statewide; promoting access to health care or housing, employment, education and training opportunities; or increasing transportation accessibility and availability.

The program was created by the Oregon Legislature in 2017 with funding from Measure 96, which voters approved overwhelmingly to dedicate a portion of Lottery revenues to serve veterans. This is the second round of funding that has been awarded through this grant.

“If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that we as a state and nation can face any challenge if we stand together,” said Kelly Fitzpatrick, director of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “We at ODVA are in awe of the tireless work of our federal, state and local partners in providing critical services to veterans across Oregon amid a pandemic, historic wildfires and other challenges. We also applaud the dedication of many partners who have targeted persistent barriers to access for women veterans, veterans of color, LGBTQ veterans and others who have been historically underserved. It is our honor and privilege to support and help expand this work through the Veteran Services Grant Program.”

ODVA received 27 proposals from across Oregon, requesting a total of $1.7 million — demonstrating that the need was several times greater than the amount of funding available. A total of 20 organizations received one-time grant awards ranging from $10,000 to $102,179.

The projects were selected by an evaluation committee composed of members of the Oregon Veterans’ Affairs Advisory Committee, representatives of Oregon’s National Service Organizations, state agencies, and other members of the veteran community from across the state.

2020 Oregon Veteran Services Grant Program Recipients

Organization: American Military Encouragement Network. Location: Clackamas County. Funding: $35,000. Purpose: Alleviate food insecurity by delivering food boxes each month to families in temporary need.

Organization: Chadwick Clubhouse. Location: Douglas County. Funding: $41,800. Purpose: A non-clinical recovery program based on the proven Clubhouse International model which reduces the rates of suicide, hospitalizations and incarcerations associated with serious mental illness.

Organization: ColumbiaCare Services. Location: Jackson County. Funding: $45,000. Purpose: Mental health and veteran-focused services, specializing in housing, treatment, crisis intervention and care coordination.

Organization: Community Counseling Solutions. Location: Morrow County. Funding: $75,000. Purpose: Behavioral health services including individual, family and group therapy, 24/7 crisis intervention services, psychiatric consultation and medication management.

Organization: Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon. Funding: $25,540. Purpose: Provide information and referral for services and direct services through Tribal programs including some with veteran preferences.

Organization: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Funding: $25,429. Purpose: Provide transportation to and from appointments, apply for benefits and provide outreach of resources available.

Organization: Crossroads Communities. Location: Linn County. Funding: $36,309. Purpose: Provide resources and stability for veterans seeking to reintegrate into civilian life as well as providing wrap around support for those suffering from treatable mental illnesses.

Organization: Divide Camp. Location: Wallowa County. Funding: $34,250. Purpose: Behavioral health activities for combat-wounded veterans through nature and wilderness activities.

Organization: Easterseals Oregon. Location: Multnomah County. Funding: $10,000. Purpose: Employment and housing for homeless veterans and their families.

Organization: Helping Hands Re-entry Outreach Centers. Location: Clatsop and Multnomah Counties. Funding: $98,000. Purpose: Critical services for veterans in conjunction with the development and implementation of a victory garden using a traumainformed, data-driven transitional housing model.

Organization: High Desert Food & Farm Alliance. Location: Deschutes County. Funding: $30,200. Purpose: An eight-week cohort during which veterans and their families receive meal kits full of locally grown produce, recipes and nutition education and one-on-one counseling with a registered dietician.

Organization: Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency. Location: Marion County. Funding: $102,179. Purpose: A combination of mental health professional and peer-delivered services to support veterans in navigating new housing opportunities, along with obtaining income, developing new life skills, and accessing health care.

Organization: NeighborWorks Umpqua. Location: Douglas County. Funding: $36,754. Purpose: Provide affordable housing and 125 essential product kits to low-income veterans moving into Eagle Landing Veteran Homes.

Organization: Project ABLE. Location: Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties. Funding: $23,278. Purpose: Provides peer support and creates a community of recovery, hope and wellness in Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties.

Organization: Salvation Army Roseburg. Location: Douglas County. Funding: $58,410. Purpose: Social services, food pantry, vouchers for clothing and household/furniture items.

Organization: Source One Serenity. Location: Douglas County. Funding: $42,730. Purpose: Empower veterans to reclaim their sense of purpose through outdoor activities and land stewardship.

Organization: St. Andrew Legal Clinic. Location: Multnomah and Washington counties. Funding: $55,500. Purpose: Provides legal services to veterans with issues regarding child custody, parenting plans and domestic violence prevention.

Organization: TFP Therapeutic Services. Location: Malheur County. Funding: $51,399. Purpose: Prevent suicide by increasing support for veterans with Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and other mental health issues.

Organization: Washington County Disability, Aging and Veteran Services. Location: Washington County. Funding: $27,500. Purpose: Provide low-barrier transitional housing beds for veterans along with behavioral health services, and assistance to file claims.

Organization: Yamhill County. Location: Yamhill County. Funding: $16,613. Purpose: Assist veterans and their families with compensation, pension, health care, education, training and other benefits.