AUSTIN, TX – The Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) presented $7,625,000 in grants to 31 government and nonprofit organizations for providing services to Gulf Coast area veterans and their families in a special ceremony held at Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston’s Great Hall; 3303 Main St, Houston on September 12. TVC Commission Secretary Kevin Barber made the presentations.

Three Katy-area organizations were among the recipients – Katy Christian Ministries, which received $ a $230,000 grant for financial assistance, and Fort Bend County, which received a $300,000 grant for financial assistance, and Harris County, which received a $300,000 grant for peer support services and a $295,000 grant for financial assistance services.

TVC presented the “big checks” to the grant recipients at Interfaith Ministries in Houston where recipients were able to talk about how this funding is used to serve an estimated 8,734 local veterans.

In May, TVC Commissioners approved 181 grants totaling over $44.2 million to 161 organizations across Texas. It is projected to provide direct services to nearly 42,000 veterans, their dependents, and surviving spouses.

Since 2009 through the current 2024-2025 grant cycle, more than $313 million in grant funding has been awarded through 1,400 FVA grants.

The grants support a wide range of services from emergency financial assistance to transportation, legal services to family support services, and home modification to rental and mortgage assistance. The TVC awards grants in five categories: General Assistance, Housing for Texas Heroes, Veterans Mental Health Grants, Veterans Treatment Courts, and Veteran County Service Officers.

Funding for these grants is generated primarily by the Texas Lottery Commission’s games designated for veteran support. People can also donate when registering their vehicles or when getting a hunting or fishing license.

Veterans in need of assistance can find organizations providing help in their area and how to contact them at tvc.texas.gov/fund.