HUD AwardsNearly $513,000 to Help 115 Homeless Veterans in Wisconsin Find Permanent Homes

CHICAGO – In an ongoing effort to end veteran homelessness, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today awarded nearly $513,000 to help 115 homeless veterans in Wisconsin find a permanent place to call home.  The rental 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. 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.

Today’s awards were part of a national announcement of $65 million to help end veteran homelessness. See the local impact of the housing assistance announced today.

With HUD celebrating its 50^th anniversary, HUD Secretary Julián Castro is focused on advancing policies that create opportunities for all Americans, including the broader Administration goal of ending homelessness among veterans.

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.

“Our nation has a sacred responsibility to support the brave men and women who served with honor, courage and distinction,” said Secretary Castro.  “These vouchers will help thousands of veterans start a new chapter in their lives and build for the future.  We look forward to partnering with communities to ensure that every veteran can secure this opportunity and have a place to call home.”

“Our veterans answered the call of duty when we needed them most and now we must do the same for them. This funding will make it possible to assist more veterans to obtain housing and bring us closer to our goal of ending veteran homelessness by 2015,” indicated Antonio R. Riley, HUD Midwest Regional Administrator.

Since 2008, more than 69,000 vouchers have been awarded and over 88,000 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 Island.

HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and http://espanol.hud.gov.  You can also connect with HUD on social media and follow Secretary Castro on  Twitter and Facebook or sign up for news alerts on HUD’s Email List.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.