$2M Grant to Further Soldier On in Central New Jersey

A $2 million federal grant recently awarded to Solder On will go towards helping low income veterans in central New Jersey who are at risk of losing their homes, Congressman Chris Smith announced Thursday.

The funding from the Veterans’ Affairs Supportive Services for Veteran Families grant program will help ensure veterans and their families can receive assistance with the economic, financial and employment-related issues that contribute to the risk of homelessness.

“The boost in funding — up to $2 million for this year — will allow this non-profit organization to enhance its services and reach many more New Jersey veterans in New Jersey who are at risk of homelessness,” said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), the former Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Smith wrote the first comprehensive law to address chronic homelessness among America’s veterans.

“This is a grant that can protect and improve the lives of those who have served the nation in uniform. It will help vets who have come across hard times stay in their homes,” he said.

The grant program has grown to nearly $300 million this year and is expected to help 120,000 homeless and at-risk veterans and their families across the country, a news release said.

Last year, $1 million in funding was secured, and Soldier On has served 522 veteran and family members throughout New Jersey with housing assistance.

Soldier On is a non-profit organization that provides housing locations, a treatment program and an employment program for veterans, according to the website.

The organization will be expanding its services to Bergen, Essex and Hudson counties through a separate $2 million grant.

“We are very grateful to the VA for creating a program that identifies underserved veterans and allows us to respond immediately to the crises in their lives,” said Jack Downing, president and chief executive officer of Soldier On. “The Supportive Services for Veteran Families program allows us to intervene and stabilize veterans and their family members in the living situation that they are now in so that they don’t have to face the difficulties of homelessness."

Freeholder Lillian Burry touted Solder On’s mission when federal funding was announced last year to assist veterans in Monmouth County and central New Jersey who were at risk of losing their homes.

“We are working to provide services and programs that our veterans need in the wake of the closure of Fort Monmouth,” Burry said in August 2012. “Soldier On has 15 years of solid experience developing transitional and permanent housing and successfully creating innovative homeownership opportunities for veterans.”