NEWS HEADLINES

New Program Launched to Prevent Veteran Homelessness

In an effort to prevent homelessness among veterans, primarily those returning from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are investing a combined $15 million in five selected communities near military installations.

The HUD and VA grant funding is intended to provide housing assistance and supportive services to veterans who might otherwise be living in homeless shelters or on the streets.

Under the new Veterans Homelessness Prevention Demonstration Program, existing HUD grantees or “Continuums of Care” located near the following military installations will each receive $2 million: MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla.; Camp Pendleton in San Diego; Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas; Fort Drum in Watertown, N.Y.; and Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Wash. In addition, VA medical centers in the following areas will each receive $1 million: Tampa; San Diego, Dallas; Syracuse, N.Y.; and American Lake, Wash.

Through a combination of housing, health care, and employment services, the demonstration program will explore innovative early interventions to help prevent veteran homelessness.