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 recently 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.
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,” says 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,” says Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald.
“The housing voucher awards announced 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.
For more information, visit www.hud.gov.
