Homeless veterans program receives $300,000 grant

WOODSTOCK – A Woodstock not-for-profit that helps homeless veterans re-enter the workforce has been awarded a grant to expand its services.

Transitional Living Services will receive almost $300,000 through the Department of Labor to reach out to struggling veterans in McHenry, Kane, DuPage, Kane and northern Cook counties.

TLS, which was formed in 1996 by a group of McHenry County veterans to help disadvantaged and disabled veterans, operates New Horizons in Hebron. The transitional living center operates out of a renovated former roadside motel.

The organization is in particular need of funding in anticipation of veterans returning from the Middle East, said Executive Director Alan Belcher.

“In the last year we’ve had six veterans come back from Iraq and Afghanistan who were served up in Hebron,” Belcher said. “There’s already been six in just one year, so we know there’s going to be an influx of people coming in.”

The grant from the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program was one of 98 totaling $25 million for agencies across the country.

By late July, TLS plans to have its new program in place, contracting with Salute Services Group, Inc. for employment assessment, training, placement and follow-up services.

“We know that there are pockets of homelessness,” Belcher said. “One example is the Waukegan area and another example is the Elgin area. We’ll concentrate on those pockets of homeless veterans where most of them will be and rely on other agencies to identify other individuals.”

TLS also has partnerships with government services and other not-for-profits, including McHenry County College, Public Action to Deliver Shelter for emergency and transitional housing, as well as Senior Helpers for assistant with daily living activities like housekeeping and cooking.