AUSTIN, Texas — Eight East Texas organizations that help veterans and their families received over $1.4 million through the Fund for Veterans’ Assistance grants.
On Tuesday, the Texas Veterans Commission’s (TVC) Grants Across Texas presented the funding that will provide services to more than 690 veterans and their families across 38 counties.
"Texas will always stand with the brave men and women who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today," Gov. Greg Abbott said. "These Fund for Veterans' Assistance grants will provide financial support and other crucial services to veterans and their families in East Texas. Texas is home to more veterans than any other state, and we will continue to support them to help ensure our nation's heroes prosper for generations to come."
TVC Commissioner and Marine veteran Chuck Wright presented the grants at Habitat for Humanity of Smith County in Tyler, which was the sixth stop of Grants Across Texas.
“The Pineywoods of Texas is home to many veterans who have served our country and now call East Texas their home,” Wright said. “These grant awards will improve the lives of veterans in the area with important services, such as home modifications in the Housing for Texas Heroes program to transportation programs to help veterans get to their appointments and other necessities.”
The East Texas veteran organizations that received grant funding are:
- Cass County: a $300,000 grant for financial assistance
- Deep East Texas Council of Governments and Economic Development District: a $70,000 grant for financial assistance
- Habitat for Humanity of Smith County: a $250,000 grant for home modifications
- Northeast Texas Habitat for Humanity: a $230,000 grant for home modifications
- RISE- Resource Information Support and Empowerment: a $145,000 grant for transportation programs and services
- Sabine Valley Regional MHMR Center: a $145,000 grant for peer support services
- The Salvation Army – Lufkin: a $100,000 grant for financial assistance
- Trinity County: a $180,000 grant for financial assistance
In May, Abbott announced 181 grants totaling over $44 million to 161 organizations across Texas, and this funding is expected to provide services to 41,000 veterans, their dependents and surviving spouses.