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Vets Find Home Through Goodwill Grants

Officials from Goodwill Industries and the City of Spokane held a joint news conference today to announce three federal grants that will help offset homelessness. The funding totals more than eight-million dollars, and its all dedicated to housing for the homeless. 

The grant for city resources came from the U-S Housing and Urban Development agency. The two grants awarded to Goodwill Industries come from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Part of the veteran’s affairs funding is a renewal of funds first received in 2013. And thanks to the funding, veterans like Amie Wonch are no longer homeless.

Wonch: “I was a combat medic in the army, I served during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. And I never really got any assistance from the VA ever before. Just this year, I’m not sure what happened, but just this year I was able to get everything I needed.”

Wonch says in a span of one day, her husband passed away, she lost her home, and then lost her job. She called Goodwill after living in her car for six months, and received help in the form of gas money, clothing, a home, and a job.

Spokane Mayor David Condon says the city projects veteran homelessness could end by 2019 in Spokane. The current veterans affairs grant for Goodwill has already helped 180 vets, and the renewal will help at least 165.

Copyright 2014 Spokane Public Radio