WASHINGTON, DC In an effort to help homeless veterans transition from homelessness to supportive housing and jobs, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced that the Nickerson House Community Center in Providence will receive $614,882 in federal funding for its Gateway to Independence Program. This money, awarded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, will allow the Nickerson House Community Center to continue and expand their important services providing transitional housing and transportation for homeless Rhode Island veterans. In 1997, Reed worked to secure $208,818 in federal funding for the establishment of the Gateway to Independence program. Since this time, the Center has offered 18 beds and provided a wide-array of services for homeless veterans including substance abuse treatment, job training and referrals, as well as mental health services. Of the total awarded funding, $585,000 will be used nearly triple the number of beds at the Gateway to Independence. The additional $29,882 will be used to purchase a handicap accessible van to help with the transportation needs of homeless veterans. For years Nickerson House Community Centers Gateway to Independence Program has given a helping hand to hundreds of brave men and women who have served our country. The importance of their work is further highlighted as many veterans return home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Reed. I am proud to have helped the Center get started, and I am pleased that they are receiving this federal funding to help expand their facilities and services. The important services that they have provided to Rhode Islands veterans should be a benchmark for the nation to follow. The Nickerson House Community Center is very proud of its Gateway to Independence Program which seeks to improve the quality of life for the men and women who have defended our nations honor, integrity and security, said Stephen Day, Executive Director. It is with the strong support and commitment by Senator Jack Reed, along with Congressman Patrick Kennedy and State Representative Frank Caprio, that we have been able to allocate resources to develop and expand housing opportunities for hundreds of homeless veterans and their families. The Nickerson House Community Center has served Providences Olneyville community for over 122 years. Today they continue to provide services such as daycare, after school care, at-risk youth programs, elder services, housing and other resources. The Gateway to Independence program was established in 1998 to respond to the needs of homeless veterans, and was the first transitional housing program of this kind in Rhode Island. Veterans may reside at Gateway for a period of up to two years.