Noteboom The Law Firm

Texas Veterans Commission Offering Millions in Grants

June 7, 2010 - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was given its largest budget increase ever this year and is spending money in ways it never has before in an attempt to help veterans. Even though this money is allocated to state run VA departments, there will never be enough money to support all of the veterans' needs.

In an effort to help veterans living in Texas, the Texas Veterans Commission has made an enormous offering. The Commission has made available up to one million dollars in grants to specific organizations. In order to qualify for the grants, the organization must supply veterans and their families in need with certain essential services such as:

• Housing;
• Transportation; and
• Counseling.

 This year alone, the Commission has already awarded $3.8 million in grants. Under their own stipulations, every qualifying organization will receive no more than $1 million and no less than $10,000 during every grant period. To receive the grants, all qualifying organizations must be either charitable organizations, Veterans Service Organizations, or local government agencies. Further, the grant money must be used to concentrate on 9 specific areas causing grief for veterans and their families.

State run VA chapters can only do so much with their limited resources so they allocate their funds to the areas most beneficial to the most people. Outside organizations being involved help to fill in those gaps where the state run VA cannot. The Commission's grants will allow those organizations to help in ways they may not have otherwise been able to.