HUD AND VA ANNOUNCE SUPPORT TO HELP 83 HOMELESS VETERANS

FIND PERMANENT HOMES IN NEW JERSEY

HUD-VASH voucher program to provide housing for 3,302 veterans nationwide

          NEW JERSEY – In a continuing 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 announced $29.3 million to 216 local public housing agencies (PHAs) across the country to provide a permanent home to veterans experiencing homelessness.

In New Jersey, The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs; and the Long Branch, Jersey City, Atlantic City, and New Brunswick housing authorities will receive a total of 83 HUD-VASH vouchers totaling $813,281. The supportive housing 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. See the local impact.

A component of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, the HUD-VASH vouchers being awarded today enable homeless veterans to obtain affordable, decent housing in the private market. These vouchers are critical tools in helping communities effectively end homelessness among veterans.

Over the last year, the number of veterans experiencing homelessness declined by two percent and has dropped by nearly 50 percent since the HUD-VASH program was created.

“President Trump has made ending veteran homelessness a priority and with his leadership we have continued to see it decline. Our nation’s veterans have given so much for our country and freedom,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “It is our duty to make certain every single veteran has a place they can call home.”

“President Trump remains committed to using every tool at our disposal to help veterans exit homelessness and remain in stable housing,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “HUD-VASH has been critical to the nearly 50% decline in veteran homelessness since 2010 and is proof that the federal government and local agencies are capable of solving complex problems together.”

“This Administration is committed to providing stable housing for our brave men, women, and families in the military,” said  Lynne Patton, HUD Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey.  The President’s increase in funding for the HUD-VASH program reflects exactly that.”

With the addition of this new award, more than 100,000 vouchers have been awarded and more than 170,000 homeless veterans have been served through the HUD-VASH program since 2008. More than 600 PHAs already administer the HUD-VASH program, and this most recent award includes 37 additional PHAs, increasing HUD-VASH coverage to several new communities. Rental assistance and supportive services provided through HUD-VASH are a critical resource for local communities in ending homelessness among our nation’s veterans.

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.

###

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  or sign up for news alerts on HUD’s Email List.