$115K awarded to help Allegheny County veterans in need
Will support housing, job training, other services
Rep. Nick Pisciottano July 14, 2023 | 5:02 PM
PITTSBURGH, July 14 – Pittsburgh area veterans will benefit from new supports and services thanks to $115,000 in funding to three area organizations providing housing, jobs and other critical assistance, members of the Allegheny County Democratic Delegation to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives announced today.
The funding from the Veterans’ Trust Fund includes $40,000 to Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard for support services to homeless veterans, $40,000 to Pittsburgh Hires Veterans for employment services, and $35,000 to Operation Troop Appreciation for financial assistance.
“Life is not always easy for those returning home from service. Veterans may struggle with post-traumatic stress and face other obstacles that make it hard to reconnect with their community, find work and afford basic life services,” said Delegation Chair state Rep. Nick Pisciottano, D-Allegheny. “Today’s funding will help Operation Troop Appreciation do what they do so well – provide critical connections and financial assistance to fellow veterans needing this support.”
“After serving our nation, no veteran should have to feel the anxiety and indignities that go with not having a place to call home,” said state Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes, D-Allegheny. “This new funding won’t solve the problem of veteran homelessness, but it will help support an important program that provides safe, secure lodging and life services to those who have sacrificed so much for us.”
“So many veterans leave the military with skills that can translate to the civilian workforce, but the transition is often a difficult one,” said state Rep. Dan Deasy, D-Allegheny. “Securing this funding is going to help expand the training and tools available to help our area veterans find jobs.”
In addition to Pisciottano, Mayes and Deasy, the Allegheny County Delegation includes state Reps. Aerion Abney, Sara Innamorato, Brandon Markosek, Jessica Benham, Dan Frankel, Matthew Gergely, Emily Kinkead, Anita Kulik, Joe McAndrew, Dan Miller, Abigail Salisbury, Mandy Steele and Arvind Venkat.
More information on VTF grants awarded statewide is available here: https://www.media.pa.gov/pages/Military-and-Veteran-Affairs-details.aspx?newsid=638#:~:text=Harrisburg%2C%20PA%20%2D%20The%20Shapiro%20Administration,by%20the%20Pennsylvania%20Department%20of.