HUD AND VA TEAM UP TO FIND PERMANENT HOMES FOR 5,200 VETERANS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
WASHINGTON - To help end veteran homelessness, the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) are awarding nearly $38 million to help more than 5,200
homeless veterans find a permanent place to call home. The rental
assistance announced today is provided through the
HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program which combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by VA.
HUD-VASH works in reducing veteran homelessness because it provides
funding for both the housing and supportive services that are essential
for ending homelessness for tens of thousands of veterans nationwide.
See the local impact of the housing assistance announced today.
HUD-VASH is an important part of the Obama Administration's efforts
to provide critical housing and services to veterans experiencing
homelessness. This effort also includes HUD's Homeless Assistance
Programs, as well as VA's Supportive Services for Veteran Families
(SSVF) and Grant and Per Diem (GPD) programs.
“Supporting the brave men and women who served our nation is not only
our honor but also our responsibility,” said Secretary Julián Castro.
“Joining the more than 111,000 formerly homeless veterans who have
already found homes through this successful program, thousands more
brave veterans will be able to start a new chapter in their lives. It’s a
privilege to partner with communities dedicated to ensuring that no
veteran has to call the streets their home.”
“Community by community, we’re making significant progress preventing
and ending homelessness among Veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans
Affairs Robert A. McDonald. “The housing voucher awards announced today
will provide thousands of the most vulnerable Veterans with access to
affordable housing from HUD and wraparound services from VA so that
each one can become and remain stably housed.”
Since 2008, more than 79,000 vouchers have been awarded and over
111,000 homeless veterans have been served through the HUD-VASH program.
Rental assistance and supportive services provided through HUD-VASH are
a critical resource for local communities in ending homelessness among
our nation's Veterans.
Additionally,
Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness serves
as a roadmap for how the federal government will work with state and
local communities to confront the root causes of homelessness,
especially among former servicemen and women. To support communities as
they progress towards the goal of ending veteran homelessness, USICH has
identified strategies that increase collaboration and coordination
among programs serving veterans experiencing homelessness.
In the HUD-VASH program, VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) assess veterans
experiencing homelessness before referring them to local housing
agencies for these vouchers. Decisions are based on a variety of
factors, most importantly the duration of homelessness and the need for
longer term, more intensive support in obtaining and maintaining
permanent housing. The HUD-VASH program includes both the rental
assistance the voucher provides and the comprehensive case management
that VAMC staff offers.
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,
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
