National Veterans Homeless Support, Inc. (NVHS) has been authorized by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) to distribute $100,000 in Reimbursement Grants to organizations throughout the State of Florida intending to conduct a Homeless Veteran Stand Down Event in their local community between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014. The anticipated goal is 4,000 homeless veterans will be assisted through this grant offering. Stand Down funding is a non-competitive grant awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, until available funding is exhausted. Special Priority will be given to areas with a significant homeless veteran population and, is not currently served by a Stand Down. A maximum of $5000 will be provided per Stand Down Day, not to exceed the maximum of $15,000 for multi-day events 

Stand Downs are typically one to three day events providing services to homeless Veterans such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling, and referrals to a variety of other necessary services, such as housing, employment and substance abuse treatment.  Stand Downs are collaborative events, coordinated between local VAs, other government agencies, and community agencies who serve the homeless.

Applications for Stand Down funds will be accepted from State Workforce Agencies, State and local Workforce Investment Boards, Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), local public agencies and homeless coalitions, and non-profit organizations including community and faith-based organizations. 

Interested organizations need to complete the application located at www.nvhs.us/grants, and provide all supporting documentation requested on the application, within 45 days of the event (may be waived on a case by case basis). Grants will be issued based on two priorities:

1. Priority One: An event located in an area that is not currently serviced within 30 miles by an existing Stand Down Event and has a significant (greater than 200) Homeless Veteran population (emergency/transitional sheltered or unsheltered)

2. Priority 2: An event that is already established and on-going

See the upper left for a copy of the full Request for Proposal (RFP)