Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar announced that Knowledge and Education for Your Success, Inc. (KEYS), a nonprofit organization affiliated with the San Bernardino Housing Authority, received $625,325 in renewal funding for the fifth consecutive year from the Department of Veterans Affairs through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program. The program aims to provide services to low-income veterans and their families who are living in, or transitioning to, permanent housing.

“The reality is that we as a nation haven’t done enough to take care of our veterans. This grant will go a long way toward making sure that veterans in our community have roofs over their heads,” said Rep. Aguilar. He continued, “We’re lucky to have an organization like KEYS in our area that can help facilitate this process and make sure that these federal dollars are put to good use by taking care of local veterans.”

“These dollars go a long way in serving homeless veterans.  We have an amazing team of partners and together we are helping reduce the number of homeless veterans in our county. Through this funding, we’ll continue to take care of these men and women who proudly served our country,” states Sheronna Quinine, KEYS’ Acting Executive Director. 

KEYS staff identify the resource needs of each family, assist in accessing VA benefits, provide housing search assistance and act as a landlord liaison, advise families on their housing options and assist families with short- to medium-term case management support to stabilize them in their new home. Staff also connect veterans and families with other community resources, including:  health care, financial planning, transportation, employment, legal assistance, child care, and daily living. Temporary financial assistance payments may also be utilized to help with expenses such as rent, utility fees, security deposits, moving costs, transportation and child care.

Rep. Aguilar has been an advocate for increased funding for veterans programs since he was first elected to Congress. In June, his bill, the Active Duty Voluntary Acquisition of Necessary Credentials for Employment (ADVANCE) Act, passed the House by a vote of 409-0. The bill eliminates red tape to make it easier for active duty service members to acquire commercial driver’s licenses and find employment outside of the military.