Bridge The Gap Grant

The Bridge The Gap Veterans' Services Grant, provided by the City of Boston, aims to enhance the quality of life for local veterans and their families. This grant supports projects focusing on housing, transportation, health and wellness, upward economic mobility, legal services, and educational programming. By addressing the specific needs of the veteran community, the program seeks to facilitate reintegration into civilian life and ensure veterans receive the resources and support they deserve.

This program will fund projects that support, honor, recognize and improve the overall quality of life of Boston's veterans, military community, and their families.
Grant Program Description
The Mayor’s Office of Veterans’ Services exists to find innovative ways to support veterans, servicemembers, and their families to live healthy & thriving lives. In recognition of this mission, the office will award mini-grants to organizations that support the veteran community of Boston and “Bridge the Gap” that exists after possible allocation of federal or state benefits. Increasing support through this initiative is vital, as many veterans and their families encounter distinct challenges that can hinder their successful reintegration into civilian life.
Funds will be used to implement projects and programs that support, honor, recognize and improve the overall quality of life of the City of Boston's veterans, military community, and their families. Focus areas include:

• Housing
• Examples: Programs offering assistance with move-in, eviction prevention, and securing housing.
• Transportation

Examples: Programs offering support in navigating transportation to work, job interviews, grocery shopping, medical or behavioral health appointments, apartment viewings, or other community services.
Health and Wellness
Examples: Wellness workshops, exercise / fitness resources and coaching, creative and expressive arts programming,
Upward Economic Mobility
Examples: Employment resources, job training, career development support.
Legal Services
Examples: Individual legal counseling and advice, mobile legal clinics, self-help materials.
Educational/Historical Programming
Examples: Commemorations or events, collaborations with schools or libraries.
These focus areas are designed to recognize the service and sacrifice of Boston’s veterans, uplift their contributions to our community, and enhance their quality of life by addressing their fundamental financial, legal, health, and wellness needs.

Eligibility

Grant recipients must:
Be a tax-exempt nonprofit organization or have an official fiscal sponsor.Be committed to supporting the quality of life of the veteran community in the City of Boston.Understand the needs facing the diverse veteran community.Be in good financial standing, adhere to all applicable laws and regulations, and able provide data that allows for assessment of the impact of the distributed funds.Must have capacity to successfully implement programming that supports the veteran community.