(Washington, DC) Today, Congressman John Yarmuth’s (KY-3) announced that the House Appropriations Committee has approved his requests for $900,000 in funding for four Louisville projects in the FY09 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations bill.

“The projects will help protect some of our most vulnerable citizens and give struggling young people and veterans the tools to succeed,” Congressman Yarmuth said.  “The benefits of these services will be felt throughout Louisville and will help make our community a safer, more secure place to live.”

$375,000 – LMPD – Mobile Data Computers
Louisville Metro Police Department will use this funding to replace mobile data computers that are outdated and unable to be repaired.  LMPD depends heavily on these machines, but the outdated models have been failing and are not compatible or upgradeable to use with current programs.  The funding will be used to support the continuation of this replacement program which is already underway.

$225,000 – ElderServe, Inc. – Crime Prevention Services
ElderServe offers a network that coordinates existing services to help prevent elder abuse and neglect and offer care to seniors who are victims of crime.  This funding will be used to expand the programs, giving them the ability to provide seven day-a-week preventative services and crisis intervention requests to homebound elderly, as well as a “safe house” for crime victims.  Last month, Congressman Yarmuth introduced legislation to expand Louisville’s ElderServe program to a national level.

$150,000 – Youth Alive – At-Risk Youth Crime Prevention Program
This funding will be used to provide a wide-range of educational support, delinquency prevention, and intervention services to inner-city males who are at-risk of gang involvement or delinquency.  This program provides young men with individualized tutoring, mentoring, and weekly systematic reinforcement and development sessions.

$150,000 – Volunteers of America – Second Chance Veterans Transitional Program  
In three years as a pilot program, the Second Chance Veterans Transitional Program  has been remarkably successful, cutting recidivism by 90 percent.  This funding will provide critical services to veterans transitioning out of prison, who are at high risk of homelessness upon their release.  The program costs $700-$1,200 per veteran and matches them with mentors to help them acquire the tools need to get jobs, find housing, and reintegrate into civilian life.  By contrast, the taxpayer cost to incarcerate individuals is $18,000 per year.  Kentucky, which has the fastest growing prison population in the country, saved about $2 million per year through the Second Chance pilot program, which served 328 veterans in three years.