VA Awards Grants to Mississippi Veterans Home

VA Awards Grants to Mississippi Veterans Home

WASHINGTON – Making sure the Mississippi Veterans Home remains a comfortable residence for veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is targeting $1.7 million in grant money for improvements to the Jackson facility.

"This grant reflects the federal-state partnership that is honoring our commitment to care for the men and women who have served in uniform," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson. "This partnership provides a comfortable home for veterans in a time of great personal need."

The grant will pay up to 65 percent of the cost of renovations, which include a new air-conditioning system, new roofs on all buildings and new bedroom furniture in the 150-bed facility. The overall cost of the project is approximately $2.6 million.

In fiscal year 2003, VA spent nearly $784 million in Mississippi to serve nearly 244,000 veterans who live in the state. In Mississippi, the VA Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System operates medical centers in Biloxi and Gulfport. VA facilities in Mississippi provided treatment to 8,966 inpatients and 633,758 outpatients in fiscal 2003.

Information about Mississippi state veterans nursing homes is available on the Web at vab.state.ms.us. # # # March 10, 2005 SOURCE: Department of Veterans Affairs