$475,000 will support transitional housing initiatives for homeless veterans in Nashua
WASHINGTON – February 25, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) today announced that the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill contains $475,000 in federal funding for new transitional housing programs in Nashua for honorably discharged, homeless veterans. The funding will be used by Harbor Homes, Inc., to create a new supportive housing facility for veterans known as “Dalianis House” in honor of veterans’ advocate Dr. Griffin Dalianis. The funding for this project is included within the Committee allocation set out for the fiscal year 2009 spending measures.
The House approved the omnibus package that contains 9 out of 12 annual spending measures this afternoon; the Senate will likely debate the measure early next week. If passed by both chambers, the legislation will then be sent to the President’s desk for his signature.
Senator Gregg stated, “Harbor Homes has demonstrated a deep commitment to helping homeless veterans in our state who need and deserve our support. Their Veterans F.I.R.S.T. Initiative and Buckingham Place are two great examples of their dedication to this extremely worthy effort of providing housing to veterans. The Dalianis House Project in Nashua further highlights this work and will help those honorably discharged veterans who qualify for assistance turn their lives around.”
Gregg continued, “During these tough economic times it is more important than ever to ensure that discretionary government spending remains within the budget guidelines. Unfortunately, even after approving a $1.1 trillion “stimulus” package, my Democratic colleagues continue to spend away our children and grandchildren’s future in this omnibus bill by adding an additional 8% to last year’s spending levels – to the tune of an additional $79 billion. At a time when businesses, individuals and families throughout our nation are tightening their belts, it is only appropriate that Congress do the same. Vital projects benefitting the Granite State can be funded while keeping overall spending at reasonable levels, which is why each of these projects is thoroughly reviewed by my office and state and local officials to ensure that funds are spent wisely and in a fiscally responsible manner. When this legislation is considered by the Senate, I plan to work with my colleagues to restore fiscal discipline to this important spending measure.”
Peter Kelleher, President of Harbor Homes for their Veterans Housing project-Dalianis House, stated, “We are extremely grateful to Senator Gregg for his ongoing support of all veterans. This funding will enable Harbor Homes’ Veterans FIRST program to help additional homeless veterans find their path back to independence. Dalianis House will provide the support and second chance that veterans deserve. The program has been operating successfully in Nashua since 2004. With support from the community and hard work on the part of the veterans, over sixty men and women have been able to again become self-supporting, productive citizens. This funding brings us one step closer to ensuring that no veteran remains homeless in our community.”
Harbor Homes is a private, non-profit housing agency in Nashua which operates Buckingham Place, a transitional housing facility for veterans. “Dalianis House” in Nashua will include twenty apartment units for honorably discharged homeless veterans, including those with mental illness and substance abuse issues, as well as their families.
