Local public housing authorities (PHAs) will receive $46.2 million to provide permanent housing for 6,790 homeless veterans.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the funding as part of the agencies’ Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH).
The grants are part of $50 million appropriated for fiscal 2011 to support the housing needs of homeless vets. This is the first of two rounds of the 2011 HUD-VASH funding. HUD expects to announce the remaining funding by the end of the summer.
Select housing authorities in California will receive more than $10.5 million in funds. Agencies in Florida will receive more than $3.7 million, followed by New York with $3.2 million.
Homeless vets are referred to the PHAs for these vouchers based on a variety of factors, most importantly the need for and willingness to participate in case management.
The veterans participating in HUD-VASH rent privately owned housing and generally contribute no more than 30 percent of their incomes toward rent. VA offers clinical and supportive services through its medical centers.
