Veterans Affairs offices in several counties in western Pennsylvania received money through the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Wednesday, and one Butler County shelter is among the beneficiaries.

The Veterans' Trust Fund Grant awarded $150,000 to nine counties, and an additional $650,000 is going to 20 charitable or veteran service organizations throughout the state.

Butler County is not getting any funding, but Robin's Home, a women veterans shelter in Butler, is getting $23,750, which its founder and executive director, Mary Chitwood, said will be used to build a fire escape for the facility.

Chitwood said the organization has gotten funding from agencies such as the Pennsylvania Foundation and the Daughters of the American Revolution. This grant is for a specific purpose, which Chitwood said has long been on the Robin's Home to-do list.

“Where we are now, we got our permit to build a fire escape,” Chitwood said. “It will be built up to the third floor to be used in emergencies.”

Robin's Home opened two years ago, and has provided housing services for 24 women veterans from around 30 years old to age 78 since, according to Chitwood. The nonprofit provides transitional housing, so its agents work with homeless and low-income female veterans and their families to find permanent shelter.

“Once they get here, we go through a housing plan,” Chitwood said. “We will look at housing in Butler or we get in touch with the VA to get a housing voucher. Those things can take time to have a unit become available.”

Robin's Home had somewhat of a lull in clientele last year during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Chitwood said the shelter has recently had a constant rotation of new clients. She said clients on average spend six to eight months at Robin's Home before they are able to move into permanent housing.

“Now we have been at capacity for I don't know how many months,” Chitwood said. “A lot of times we get referrals from Butler VA and Pittsburgh VA for people.”

Eventually Robin's Home may need to expand its facilities, Chitwood said, so she intends to keep applying for grants when available.

“I wish we had more space to accommodate more women for housing,” Chitwood said. “That is on our list of things moving into next year.”