Additional funding for homeless vets
U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced today that HUD will provide an additional $2.5 million to public housing agencies to supply housing and case management for 380 homeless veterans. The government department says this funding “is part of a total $75 million the Obama Administration is investing this year to house 10,450 homeless veterans who might otherwise be living on the streets.”
The permanent supportive housing assistance announced is provided through HUD’sVeterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH), a program administered by HUD, VA, and local housing agencies to provide permanent housing with case management and other supportive services for homeless veterans across the country.
HUD says homelessness is falling
“Our latest count shows that homelessness among veterans has fallen by 12 percent,” said Donovan. “Thanks to HUD, VA and local public housing authorities working collaboratively with VA medical centers, we’re offering homes, along with critically needed supportive services, to veterans who sacrificed themselves for all Americans.”
“Through HUD-VASH we will accomplish our goal – to prevent and eliminate veteran homelessness by 2015 and improve quality of life for veterans” said VA Secretary Shinseki. “No one, especially veterans who have faithfully served our country, should become homeless. VA is committed to providing veterans and their families with access to affordable housing and medical services that will help them get back on their feet.”
New funding announced earlier this year
Earlier this year, HUD and VA announced $72.6 million in HUD-VASH funding to public housing agencies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to house more than 10,000 homeless veterans. VA Medical Centers (VAMC) provide supportive services and case management to eligible homeless veterans.
HUD says, “VAMCs work closely with homeless veterans then refer them to public housing agencies for these vouchers, based upon a variety of factors, most importantly the duration of the homelessness and the need for longer term more intensive support to obtain and maintain permanent housing. The HUD-VASH program includes both the rental assistance the voucher provides and the comprehensive case management that VAMC staff provides.”
Veterans participating in the HUD-VASH program rent privately owned housing and generally contribute no more than 30 percent of their income toward rent. VA offers eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services through its medical centers across the U.S., Guam and Puerto Rico.
>Take a look at the Homeless American Veterans Flickr group to see the faces of those afflicted that the Obama administration has pledged to help.
