Funding part of Obama Administration plan to end Veteran homelessness
(WASHINGTON) - U.S. Housing
and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced
today that HUD will provide $46.2 million to public housing agencies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to supply
permanent housing and case management for 6,790 homeless veterans in America.
This funding, from HUD's Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program
(HUD-VASH) is a coordinated effort by HUD, VA, and local housing agencies to provide permanent housing for homeless
Veterans.
"Over the past three years, HUD helped thousands of homeless
Veterans find a permanent place to call home while VA provided medical treatment, case management and other services to address
their specific needs," said HUD Secretary Donovan. "We have no greater mission than to prevent and end homelessness,
especially for those brave men and women who risked their lives to protect our nation."
"This initiative will strengthen our ongoing efforts
to eliminate Veteran homelessness by 2015 and improve quality of life for Veterans," said VA Secretary Shinseki. "Working
with our partners at HUD and in Congress, we continue to make good progress to reduce Veteran homelessness though much work
remains. 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."
"This is a great step forward in our effort to get veterans
off the streets and into permanent housing," said Senator Murray, Chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.
"Growing up during the Vietnam War, I saw a generation of soldiers left behind because they weren't given the support
they needed during their transition home, and I have worked to ensure that veterans today don't face a similar fate. These
vouchers will provide critical support to thousands of veterans whose needs went unmet for too long, so that they will finally
get the services they need and a permanent place to call home. HUD-VASH vouchers are a key reason why we are making real progress
toward goals to finally end veterans homelessness."