WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — The State of Georgia is working to provide additional resources for veterans and military servicemen. Governor Brian Kemp signed three bills this week to benefit this group.
Senate Bill 21 makes changes to the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation to better serve military members in Georgia.
House Bill 175 removes some requirements for disabled veterans and creates a specialty license plate for retired members of the National Guard and reservists.
House Bill 414 creates a grant program to support mental health programs for military members, veterans, and their families.
Megan Western went to Warner Robins to talk to with a veteran and an organization about the new funding.
"I was in the Army for three years. I was in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, I was in Fort Hood, Texas, and Vietnam," says Johnny Bellew.
He says he's enjoyed veteran life and the services made available to him.
"V.A. pay and Social Security are definitely helping me out," he says.
He says ever since he's gotten his 100 percent disability, he's lived life pretty comfortably, but before, he had a harder time. While navigating through life as a veteran, he found himself like 38,000 other vets -- unhoused.
"I was staying out there sleeping in my truck, going to churches and getting food," says Bellew.
However, that isn't everyone's reality. Genesis Joy House in Warner Robins works with unhoused female veterans.
Under House Bill 414, $750,000 in funding was provided to offer more mental health services for veteran and military families. The grant program will be organized through the Georgia Department of Veterans Services.
Joy House Founder Margaret Flowers says if they receive extra funding from the grant towards mental health programs, it could help prevent homelessness for some, and help their organization with problems they see daily.
"Here, we deal with the PTSD and we have professional licensed counselors that assist with that, " says Flowers.
She adds that most nonprofits rely on volunteers for most work, and through the grant, they could hire caseworkers and psychologists for a larger impact.
"We definitely need that professional piece because our volunteers don't have that professional piece, and people will do more and give more if you pay them," she adds.
She says as a nonprofit, they also rely on sponsors because it is harder and takes longer to get approved for federal grants.
"We're depending on monthly pledge partners, individual donors, to donate monetary to sustain us, because grants can't sustain you, because they are not guaranteed that you will win the grants. I am very excited about what Governor Kemp is doing and where he is acknowledging that we do need more grant funding for veterans with mental illness," says Flowers.
Flowers says some turn away from help, based on the stigma of the phrase "mental health," but having more professionals in behavioral health could help rehabilitation for the people they serve.
"Once they get in the face of a professional and they can steer away from that word and help them with their behavior, cognitive behavior issues, that starts getting them the professional help that they need," she says.
She said Joy House hopes to apply for the grant, and get funds to help the veterans they serve.
Genesis Joy House also offers classes through their community resource center for job readiness, computer training, financial literacy classes for veterans and the entire community.
You can find out more about those resources here.
They are also looking for volunteers and donations. You can get that information here.