ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Veterans Outreach Center is still grappling with funding challenges after losing $500,000 in federal grants last summer.
Executive Director Laura Heltz has been seeking alternative funding sources since the grant loss, which affected the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program.
“The veterans who were enrolled in that program, many of them were at risk for or experiencing homelessness,” Heltz said. “So you think about how hard it is sometimes to find a job. Then you think, ‘How much harder would it be if I was homeless to find a job?'”
Heltz, a veteran herself, struggled with finding work after leaving the military. She is determined to prevent other veterans from facing similar struggles.
“I think since that time, I really wanted to ensure that other veterans didn’t go through that struggle,” she said.
Monroe County’s ARPA funds are currently helping to offset the loss, but Heltz said this funding will not be available in 2027. She is actively seeking support from foundations and corporate donations.
“We’re doing our very best here at the Veterans Outreach Center to use the funds that we were allocated diligently and to make a big impact in the veteran community,” she said.
The program has had a significant impact on veterans like Douglas Makarushka, who shared his experience with News10NBC in July.
“It’s helped me enormously,” he said. “Just coming here for the first time and meeting the managers and the case managers here.”
At the time, Makarushka had been employed for six weeks and was finding stability.
“Without this program, I don’t know what I might be doing right now,” he said. “I still may be in a homeless shelter.”
The VOC plans to reapply for the next round of Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program funding through the Department of Labor.
Veterans Outreach Center still seeking funding for homeless veterans’ employment program WHEC.com.
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