Announcement of Stand Down Grants

DOL VETS supports local SD events that assist homeless veterans by providing a wide variety of employment, social, and health services. A homeless veteran is a veteran, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(2), who is “homeless” as defined at 42 U.S.C.11302(a)-(b), as amended by the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-22). A Stand Down is a non-competitive grant that is awarded to organizations to provide basic services to homeless veterans such as showers, haircuts, attention to health concerns, and other collaborative services to give participants a greater sense of self and an opportunity to improve their chances of securing and maintaining employment. Veterans experiencing homelessness do not always have access to basic hygiene supplies that are necessary to maintain their health and appearance. Also, the lack of shelter limits their ability to prepare for and present themselves at job interviews or be contacted for follow-up. These grants funds must be used to enhance employment and training opportunities or to promote the self-sufficiency of homeless veterans through paid work. The maximum amount awarded per applicant, in a fiscal year (October 1 – September 30) is $7,000 for a one-day event and $10,000 for a multi-day event. An organization may apply for multiple grant awards as long as the organization is conducting SD events in different geographic areas. Grants may be awarded to multiple organizations that conduct SD events in the same general area as long as there is no commingling of federal funds.