HUD and VA to provide permanent housing to an estimated 10,000 homeless veteransMortgagePress.comHUD, VA, housing, James B. Peake, Roy A. Bernardi, veterans
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James B. Peake and
U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi
have announced a $75 million plan to provide permanent supportive
housing for an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans nationwide.
Bernardi and Peake made the announcement with Mayor Michael
Bloomberg at a newly renovated housing program for homeless
veterans in Queens and emphasized the federal and local
government's partnership to house and support America's homeless
veteran population.
New York City will receive approximately $9.4 million dollars to
permanently house more than 1,000 homeless veterans while the
Greater Los Angeles area will be allocated approximately $7.5
million to assist an estimated 840 homeless veterans. Click here to see chart.
"We are deeply grateful for the service and sacrifice by our
nation's veterans and we must make every effort to help them as
they struggle to avoid a life on the streets," said Bernardi. "This
program is one opportunity to say, thank you and to make certain
that we serve them as they once served us."
"Today, VA and HUD are strengthening our long-standing
partnership on homelessness to achieve a simple vision--that no one
who has served and fought for their country should have to live on
the streets," said Peake. "We hope to build upon this effort soon
with another step providing more case managers to support a marked
increase in permanent housing units."
"Ending veteran homelessness is an ambitious goal that is more
in reach thanks to this historic federal commitment to provide
housing for veterans," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Our partnership with
the VA has already provided homes for hundreds of veterans over the
past year and the housing slots being allocated to New York City
today will bring new hope to more than 1,000 homeless veterans in
our City. It sends a powerful message to the men and women
currently fighting for our country overseas - that we do not take
their service for granted."
HUD's Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH)
will provide local public housing agencies with approximately
10,000 rental assistance vouchers specifically targeted to assist
homeless veterans in their area. In addition, VA and HUD will link
local public housing agencies with VA Medical Centers to provide
supportive services and case management to eligible homeless
veterans.
HUD will allocate the housing vouchers to local public housing
agencies across the country that are specifically targeted to
homeless veterans based on a variety of factors, including the
number of reported homeless veterans and the proximity of a local
VA Medical Center with the capacity to provide case management. New
York City and the greater Los Angeles area received the greatest
number of vouchers using these criteria.
HUD will provide housing assistance through its Section 8
Housing Choice Voucher Program which allows participants to rent
privately owned housing. The VA will offer eligible homeless
veterans clinical and supportive services through its medical
centers across the U.S and Puerto Rico. Last year, VA provided
healthcare to more than 100,000 homeless veterans and other
services to over 60,000 veterans in its specialized homeless
programs. The Bush Administration's proposed FY 2009 Budget seeks
to double the amount of funding announced today to provide an
additional $75 million to support the housing and service needs of
an additional 10,000 homeless veterans across America.
Local communities or "Continuums of Care" that receive HUD
homeless assistance will work with local VA Medical Centers to
identify eligible participants. The VA will then screen homeless
veterans to determine their eligibility. Those eligible vets will
receive treatment and regular case management to retain the
voucher. VA Medical Center case managers will also work closely
with local housing agencies to help participants find suitable
housing. Participating local housing agencies will also determine
income eligibility in accordance to HUD regulations for the Housing
Choice Voucher Program.
For more information, visit www.hud.gov or www.va.gov.
