Updated 7/15/2021 4:02 PM
Hundreds of Chicago-area veteran families experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless will have access to crucial services from local organizations via nearly $8.3 million in Department of Veterans Affairs grants and Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital s Supportive Services for Veteran Families program.
Seven Chicago-area organizations received grants totaling $8,297,222. The awardees are:
• Featherfist in Chicago, $1,672,587;
• Heartland Human Care Services Inc. in Chicago, $1,461,758;
• Thresholds in Chicago, $1,095,904;
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, $903,538;
• Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans Inc. in Wheaton, $503,814;
• Transitional Living Services Inc. in McHenry, $383,918.
Through partnerships with Hines VA and community programs, the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program provides eligible veteran families with outreach, case management and assistance obtaining VA and o
“The concept is it’s an all-inclusive’ park, where not only people with disabilities but children that don’t have any disabilities could all join together,” said city Solicitor Richard Tonetta. “For example, it might have a swing set that would hook up to a wheelchair.
“It’s really a really cool thing,” Tonetta said recently. “Now, we’re taking it a little bit further. We are including not only for children, but for adults. Because you can have someone that’s developmentally disabled, they have the body of a 25-year-old but the mind of a younger child. And so, there was really nothing for any of those people to enjoy.”