Tester Announces Funding for Housing and Services for Homeless Veterans in Montana

Grants will provide assistance to homeless veterans in Billings, Kalispell, Missoula, and Poplar

U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today announced funding to help homeless and at-risk veterans across Montana get back on their feet.

Tester secured funding for five nonprofits located in Billings, Kalispell, Missoula, and Poplar under the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Grant Per Diem (GPD) program, which provides veterans access to safe housing and other supportive services. Services will be provided to veterans staying in one of the 62 beds secured by this funding across the five organizations.

“Now more than ever, we need to be taking swift action to ensure our nation’s heroes have the resources they need to get back on their feet,” said Ranking Member Tester. “These funds will bring critical relief to Montana’s veterans by putting a safe roof over their heads while they seek stable employment that will help them provide for themselves and their families.”

Tester secured grant money for the following Montana organizations:

• Volunteers of American Northern Rockies, Billings, 20 beds;
• North West Montana Veterans Stand Down, Kalispell, support services;
• Missoula Housing Authority, Missoula, 17 beds and support services;
• The Poverello Center, Missoula, 20 beds;
• Fort Peck Housing Authority, Poplar, five beds.

Tester has been leading the charge in Congress to expand VA services for homeless veterans across the country. He recently backed bipartisan legislation to strengthen VA services for homeless veterans, and spearheaded an effort to expand testing capabilities for this vulnerable population during the COVID-19 pandemic.