Veteran service organizations in Dallas-Fort Worth and across North Texas got a boost last week when Governor Greg Abbott announced over $8.6 million in grants awarded to 32 organizations as part of the Texas Veterans Commission’s (TVC) Grants Across Texas presentations. The funding—distributed through 36 Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (FVA) grants—will support more than 10,900 veterans and their families across 30 counties.

“Texas is proud to be home to more veterans than any other state,” Governor Abbott said in a statement. “These Fund for Veterans’ Assistance grants will provide thousands of brave men and women who served in our nation’s military in North Texas with financial assistance and crucial services, including clinical counseling, home modifications, and service dogs. Texas will always remember and honor the sacrifices that our veterans have made for our country.”

Rockwall-based Patriot PAWS was one of two stops in North Texas for the Grants Across Texas tour. To date, the nonprofit says it has had more than 600 dogs, which take 18 to 24 months to train, in its program. Veterans from DFW and beyond can apply to receive a service dog at no cost. [Image: screenshot Mutual of America video]

Boosting services for veterans in Dallas-Fort Worth

The grants were presented during two stops of the Grants Across Texas tour—at Patriot PAWS Service Dogs in Rockwall and Meals on Wheels Tarrant County in Haltom City, marking the seventh and eighth stops of the initiative, which will continue through the second week of October.

“The number of veteran-serving organizations receiving grants in the DFW and North Texas region is so large we needed two Grants Across Texas stops to recognize the awards,” said TVC Commissioner and Marine veteran Chuck Wright. “I’m proud to live in this area, and I will be excited to see these awards put to good use in a myriad of ways, including Veteran Treatment Courts, service dog programs, homeless support, and many more needed services.”

Goodwill North Central Texas was one of the area organizations that received funding from the Texas Veterans Commission on the Texas Tour stop on Wednesday. The group says its $50,000 grant will be used to provide CDL Professional Truck Driving training to veterans in the area. [Photo: Goodwill North Central Texas]

Expanding support services: Who’s getting funding

The grants support various services, from clinical counseling and financial assistance to home modifications and employment support. The following organizations received funding:

• Collin County: $670,000 total; $400,000 for veteran treatment court program and $270,000 grant for clinical counseling
• Pecan Valley Centers for Behavioral and Developmental Healthcare: $600,000 total; $300,000 for financial assistance and $300,000 for clinical counseling
• Rolling Plains Management Corporation: $600,000 total; $300,000 for financial assistance and $300,000 for home modifications
• Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County: $565,00 total; $300,000 for support services and $265,000 for home modifications
• Baylor Research Institute: $500,000 for clinical counseling
• Community Learning Center: $500,000 for financial assistance
• Garland Area Habitat for Humanity: $500,000 for home modifications
• Patriot PAWS Service Dogs: $500,000 for service dog program
• United Way of Denton County: $300,000 for financial assistance
• United Way of Johnson County: $300,000 for homeless veteran support
• Veterans Center of North Texas: $300,000 for financial assistance
• City of Fort Worth: $300,000 for financial assistance
• NPower: $300,000 for employment support
• Dallas County: $300,000 for veteran treatment court program
• Tarrant County: $200,000 for veteran treatment court program
• Citizens Development Center: $235,000 for employment support
• Family Pathfinders of Tarrant County: $125,000 for support services
• Feonix – Mobility Rising: $150,000 for financial assistance
• Riding Unlimited: $135,000 for clinical counseling
• Jake E’s Riding Round Up: $135,000 for clinical counseling
• Making Dreams Real: $95,000 for homeless veteran support
• Equest: $95,000 for clinical counseling
• Marriage Management Consultants: $100,000 for peer support services
• Canine Companions for Independence: $100,000 for service dog program
• Homeless Veterans Services of Dallas: $100,000 for homeless veteran support
• The Salvation Army – Grayson County: $100,000 for financial assistance
• Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth: $50,000 for employment support
• City of Dallas: $50,000 for veteran treatment court program
• Ellis County: $110,000 for veteran treatment court program
• Texoma Area Paratransit System: $40,000 for transportation programs and services
• United Way of Tarrant County: $275,000 for referral services
• Volunteers of America, Texas: $295,000 for financial assistance

Texas funding expands impact

Since its inception in 2009, the Fund for Veterans’ Assistance has awarded over $313 million through 1,400 grants. The funding supports many services, including emergency financial assistance, transportation, legal services, family support, home modification, and rental and mortgage assistance. The grants are funded mainly through designated Texas Lottery Commission games, as well as individual donations made during vehicle registrations and licensing.

In May, Governor Abbott announced the round of FVA grants totaling over $44 million to 161 organizations across Texas and the tour highlighting grant-funded organizations throughout the state. The Texas grants are projected to provide direct services to nearly 41,000 veterans, their dependents, and surviving spouses, according to the Governor’s office. 

“These grants are critical to ensuring that Texas veterans receive the support they deserve,” TVC Commissioner Wright said. “The funds help expand the capacity of organizations that are doing the important work of caring for those who have served our country.”

For more information on available services, and how to contact organizations receiving grants, Texas veterans can go here.

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