Minn. groups get $1.6M to combat vet homelessness

More help will be available for Minnesota veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness thanks to new federal grants.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs awarded about $1.6 million to Minnesota groups that work on the problem of homelessness among veterans.

Hundreds more veterans will get help, said Nathaniel Saltz, the statewide program director at the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, which will receive about $1.4 million.

"We can find veterans better with this grant that are needing the assistance," Saltz said, "help them to find a place, pay their first month's rent and security deposit, work with them to secure employment or income, and work with them so they can find security for them and their family."

Saltz added: "We are not seeing the need decrease. And it just makes sense with the returning veterans from recent conflicts, that they've been home for a while, have some stability and then things can get a little bit shaky with loss of job, changes in the family dynamic. And then they find themselves in a crisis and needing assistance."

The grants were part of nearly $300 million awarded nationwide. The Tri-County Action Program in Waite Park, Minn., also received a grant of about $200,000.