Voucher Program to Aid Homeless Vets
HUD and the VA just announced a third round of funding for vouchers which will aid veterans in the search for housing.
Earlier this year, the two agencies announced $68 million in HUD-VASH vouchers to help house and serve approximately 10,000 veterans, most unsheltered or living in homeless shelters. The supportive housing 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.
Since 2008, a total of 58,250 vouchers have been awarded and 43,371 formerly homeless veterans are currently in homes of their own because of HUD-VASH.
Our nations veterans have sacrificed and given up so much for our freedom so it is our responsibility to do whatever we can to make sure they are taken care of, said HUD Secretary Donovan. These vouchers are vital to helping America end veterans homelessness one veteran at a time.
These HUD-VASH vouchers are a vital tool in our effort to provide these brave men and women with the earned care and benefits that help them live productive, meaningful lives, said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.
HUDs annual point in time estimate of the number of homeless persons and families for 2012 found that veteran homelessness fell by 7.2 percent (or 4,876 people) since January 2011 and by 17.2 percent since January 2009. On a single night in January 2012, 62,619 veterans were homeless.
VA Medical Centers will continue to offer veterans supportive services and case management. These 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.
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