Story Published: Mar 30, 2009 at 5:55 PM MDT
Story Updated: Mar 30, 2009 at 6:40 PM MDT
The group is distributing about $75,000 worth of grants to the Southeast Idaho Community Action Agency.
SEICAA currently runs two different transitional houses for homeless veterans.
This money will help them pay for utilities, and even some food. Ken Callahan, SEICAA Veterans Services Director said, "The last couple of years our length of stay was about 10 months."
There are 12 people currently staying at the Freedom Landing Zone and the Jefferson House. Callahan said, "It's pretty full all the time."
Another three people are on a waiting list to move in. "Without that what would we do? There wouldn't be anywhere for them to go," said Callahan.
Grant money from the Idaho Housing and Finance Association allows the eight-bed homes stay open. "It's the same as you and me and everybody else-we want homes, we want a safe place to live, and the same with (veterans). Except they just haven't come to the right place yet," said Callahan.
Along with providing shelter the veterans also get help learning how to manage their money, and some even earn a food handlers permit. Callahan said, "They're looking for jobs all the time if they're able to do that."
People can stay at the homes for up to two years. "Go to school for a year maybe, go on to job training, go to rehab-wherever they need to go," said Callahan.
But most are focused on getting back to a regular life in their own home. Since 2003 more than 64 people have moved from the transitional housing into permanent homes.
The hope is that even more will have that chance in the future. Callahan said, "It's not a bad place to be for them. Actually it's pretty good."
Several other groups in Southeast Idaho will also receive grant money, including Aid for Friends, Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership, and The Ark.