The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of veterans Affairs have announced $33 million in funding the will support 2,532 new vouchers for homeless veterans across 265 Public Housing Authorities in 44 states.
The announcement was made by (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner and VA Secretary Doug Collins and will support the HUD–Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.
HUD also is awarding $10 million in administrative fees across 289 PHAs in 46 states that currently administer the program, the agencies announced. Those funds will support activities that assist in leasing HUD-VASH vouchers and improving program delivery.
“The Trump administration is committed to ending Veteran homelessness across America. HUD is pleased to work alongside the VA to serve a vulnerable population that honorably served us,” Turner said. “Today’s investment will help provide resources to support more than 2,500 homeless Veterans in achieving stable housing and self-sufficiency.”
Critical Funding
Collins said the fund will provide important funding.
“No one who served their country should face homelessness,” Collins said. “This funding will help us deliver critical support to thousands of Veterans across the nation, and builds on the progress made last year when VA housed more than 51,000 homeless Veterans.”
Since 2010, Veteran homelessness has declined by 56.1% nationwide, with HUD-VASH playing a major role in that reduction, the agencies said.
Including the new awards, the total number of active HUD-VASH vouchers exceeds 118,000 nationwide. Since 2008, more than 250,000 Veterans have obtained safe, stable, and affordable housing through HUD-VASH, the agencies noted.
The HUD-VASH program provides rental assistance and supportive services to help Veterans experiencing homelessness across the nation.
It is a joint initiative between HUD and the VA, combining HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless Veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the VA. The services are delivered via VA medical centers, community-based outpatient clinics, VA contractors, and other designated VA entities.
HUD-VASH operates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
