PROVIDENCE, RI -- In an effort to provide Rhode Island's homeless veterans with transitional housing and reliable transportation, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today joined U.S. Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and James Langevin (D-RI), Providence Mayor David Cicilline, and officials from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in announcing a $614,882 grant from the VA for the new Gateway to Independence Program at Nickerson Community Center. This federal funding will help the Center expand its important services to more 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. "I am proud to have helped the Nickerson Community Center Gateway to Independence program get started years ago, and to watch its facilities grow and expand to help more of our homeless veterans in need," stated Reed. "For years, the Center has provided a helping hand to hundreds of brave men and women who have served our country. This federal funding will allow them to help even more of our veterans find a place to live and a way to get to work." Nickerson Community Center Executive Director Stephen Day stated, "These are exciting times for the Nickerson Community Center and Gateway to Independence. This capital improvement and transportation grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs has allowed us to dedicate the critical resources necessary to develop and expand housing and transportation opportunities for homeless veterans and their families." The Nickerson House Community Center has served Providence's Olneyville community for over 124 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.