For the second year in a row, Hospice of Chattanooga has received $30,000 in grant funding for veterans programs from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
The funding is designed for programs that give homeless and rural veterans better access to health care. Hospice's toll-free Veterans Affairs Hotline is one Chattanooga project that will continue to be sustained as a result of the grant.
"A lot of veterans simply don't know end-of-life care is available to them," said Sherry Campbell, Hospice of Chattanooga's veterans grant coordinator. "The hot line gives us a chance to tell veterans about their options. No one should reach the end of life alone, afraid or in pain."
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 200,000 veterans are without shelter nationwide on any given night.
"Hospice of Chattanooga works extremely hard to make sure veterans receive the quality health care they deserve," said the Rev. L. Clark Taylor, CEO of Hospice of Chattanooga. "Receiving this grant for a second year in a row means our efforts have been recognized on a national level, and that is very exciting."