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                  VA NEWS FLASH from Larry Scott at VA Watchdog dot Org -- 04-17-2008 #4		  






 


 
 

 


 



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VA AND HUD TO PROVIDE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

FOR 10,000 HOMELESS VETERANS -- VA Secretary Peake:

"We hope to build upon this effort soon with another

step providing more case managers to support a

marked increase in permanent housing units."

 

 

For more about homeless veterans, use the VA Watchdog search engine...click here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/sessearch.php?q=homeless&op=and

VA press release here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/vap08/vap041608-1.htm

Press release below:

 

-------------------------

HUD Deputy Secretary Bernardi, VA Secretary Peake and Mayor Bloomberg Announce HUD and VA to Provide Permanent Housing for an Estimated 10,000 Homeless Veterans

April 16, 2008

$75 million program to reduce the number of homeless vets nationwide

$9.4 million awarded to New York City to permanently house more than 1,000 homeless veterans and fulfill recommendations of joint NYC/VA Task Force on ending veteran homelessness



NEW YORK – U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James B. Peake and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi today announced $75 million to provide permanent supportive housing for an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans nationwide. Bernardi and Peake made the announcement with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg at a newly renovated housing program for homeless veterans in Queens, and emphasized the Federal and local government’s partnership to house and support America’s homeless veteran population.

New York City will receive approximately $9.4 million to permanently house more than 1,000 homeless veterans. Their program will be administered by the New York City Housing Authority and the Department of Homeless Services.

“We are deeply grateful for the service and sacrifice by our nation’s veterans and we must make every effort to help them as they struggle to avoid a life on the streets,” said Bernardi. “This program is one opportunity to say, ‘Thank You’ and to make certain that we serve them as they once served us.”

Article continues below:

 

“Today, VA, HUD and New York City are strengthening our long-standing partnership on homelessness to achieve a simple vision -- that no one who has served and fought for their country should have to live on the streets,” said Peake. “We hope to build upon this effort soon with another step providing more case managers to support a marked increase in permanent housing units.”

“Ending veteran homelessness is an ambitious goal that is more in reach thanks to this historic federal commitment to provide housing for veterans,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Our partnership with the VA has already provided homes for hundreds of veterans over the past year and the housing slots being allocated to New York City today will bring new hope to more than 1,000 homeless veterans in our City. It sends a powerful message to the men and women currently fighting for our country overseas – that we do not take their service for granted.”

HUD’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH) will provide local public housing agencies with approximately 10,000 rental assistance vouchers specifically targeted to assist homeless veterans in their area (see attached chart for a local breakdown of homeless veterans to be assisted). In addition, the VA and HUD will link local public housing agencies with VA Medical Centers to provide supportive services and case management to eligible homeless veterans.

HUD will allocate the housing vouchers to local public housing agencies (PHAs) across the country that are specifically targeted to homeless veterans based on a variety of factors, including the number of reported homeless veterans and the proximity of a local VA Medical Center with the capacity to provide case management. New York City and the greater Los Angeles area received the greatest number of vouchers using this criterion.

HUD will provide housing assistance through its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program which allows participants to rent privately owned housing. The VA will offer eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services through its medical centers across the U.S and Puerto Rico. Last year, the VA provided health care to more than 100,000 homeless veterans and other services to over 60,000 veterans in its specialized homeless programs. The Bush Administration’s proposed FY 2009 Budget seeks to double the amount of funding announced today to provide an additional $75 million to support the housing and service needs of an additional 10,000 homeless veterans across America.

Local communities or “Continuums of Care” that receive HUD homeless assistance will work with local VA Medical Centers to identify eligible participants. The VA will then screen homeless veterans to determine their eligibility. Those eligible vets will receive treatment and regular case management to retain the voucher. VA Medical Center case managers will also work closely with local housing agencies to help participants find suitable housing. Participating PHAs will also determine income eligibility in accordance to HUD regulations for the HCV program.

New York City’s Department of Homeless Services will use the 1,000 vouchers, supplemental veterans treatment and case management services announced today to help achieve permanent and sustained housing status for all homeless veterans. In December 2006, the VA and the City of New York reached an historic agreement to address ending veteran homelessness in New York City. Under the agreement, the City vowed to place 100 veterans into permanent housing in 100 days, surpassing the goal with 135 veterans moving during that period, and subsequently succeeded in placing more than 400 veterans into homes of their own in 2007. The VA and the City also convened a joint Task Force that created a strategic plan to end veteran homelessness in New York City. Among the Task Force recommendations were the creation of a jointly operated VA/NYC multi-service center to serve as a one-stop site to access services for homeless veterans, scheduled to open in the Summer of 2008; the creation of a veteran-only SAFE HAVEN as an alternative to the shelter system to open in the Summer/Fall 2008 and veteran-specific, short-term housing site for those working towards permanent housing.

###

HUD is the nation’s housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov  and www.espanol.hud.gov .

Secretary James B. Peake, M.D. serves as the chair the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the federal coordinating body addressing issues of homelessness. Recently, VA announced a reduction of homeless veterans from more than 195,000 to about 154,000. Today, VA supports more than 15,000 beds in transitional housing facilities or in VA residential treatment programs nationwide and recently announced $37 million to fund at least 2,250 new transitional housing beds by giving grants to local providers this year. The Department is the largest federal provider of direct assistance to the homeless, including outreach and case management, treatment, rehabilitation, transitional residential care, therapeutic work and assistance with permanent housing. As part of its homelessness programs, VA also supports special programs for the treatment and rehabilitation of those suffering from mental illness and addictive disorders.

For more information, visit VA’s grant and per diem program Web page at www.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=3  or contact VA’s grant and per diem program office toll free at 1-877-332-0334, or e-mail VA at homelessvets@mail.va.gov .

 

State VA Medical Center Location* Estimated # of homeless veterans to be assisted
Alaska Anchorage 35
Alabama Birmingham 105
  Tuscaloosa 35
  Tuskegee 35
Arkansas Little Rock 105
  Fayetteville 35
Arizona Tucson 70
  Phoenix 105
  Prescott 35
California San Francisco 105
  Greater Los Angeles 840
  Loma Linda 35
  Central CA Health Care System 35
  Palo Alto 70
  Northern CA Health Care System 35
  San Diego 105
  Long Beach 70
Colorado Denver 175
  So. Colorado 35
Connecticut  West Haven 70
District of Columbia Washington, DC 140
Delaware Wilmington 35
Florida Tampa  105
  Orlando 70
  W. Palm Beach 105
  Bay Pines 105
  Gainesville 140
  Gulf Coast Health Care System 35
  Miami 105
Georgia Augusta 35
  Atlanta 350
  Dublin 35
Hawaii Honolulu 70
Iowa Central Iowa 35
  Iowa City 35
Idaho Boise 20
  Chicago WS 105
  Hines 70
  N. Chicago 35
Indiana Indianapolis 70
  N. Indiana 35
Kansas Topeka 35
  Wichita 35
  Leavenworth 105
Kentucky Louisville 70
  Lexington 35
Louisiana Shreveport 35
  New Orleans 140
  Alexandria 35
Massachusetts Boston 105
  Northampton 70
  Bedford 70
Maryland Perry Point 70
  Baltimore 105
Maine Togus 35
Michigan Ann Arbor Health Care System 70
  Saginaw 35
  Battle Creek 35
  Detroit 105
Minnesota Minneapolis 70
Missouri Kansas City 70
  St. Louis 35
  Columbia 35
Mississippi Jackson 35
Montana Montana Health Care System 35
North Carolina Asheville 35
  Durham 35
  Salisbury 35
North Dakota Fargo 35
Nebraska Omaha 35
  Gr. Nebraska 35
New Hampshire Manchester 35
New Jersey East Orange 35
  Lyons 35
New Mexico New Mexico Health Care System 35
Nevada Sierra Nevada Health Care System 70
  Southern Nevada Health Care System 105
New York Syracuse 35
  Bronx 385
  Brooklyn 455
  New York  175
  Albany 35
  Canandaigua 35
  Buffalo 35
  Montrose 105
  Northport 35
Ohio Columbus Outpatient Clinic 35
  Cleveland 105
  Cincinnati 70
  Dayton 35
  Chillicothe 35
Oklahoma Oklahoma City 35
  Muskogee 35
Oregon Portland 70
  Roseburg 35
  White City 35
Pennsylvania Pittsburgh 70
  Philadelphia 105
  Butler 35
  Coatesville 105
  Erie 35
  Wilkes-Barre 35
  Lebanon 70
Puerto Rico San Juan 20
Rhode Island Providence ` 35
South Carolina Charleston 70
  Columbia 70
South Dakota Hot Springs 35
  Ft. Meade 35
Tennessee Memphis 105
  Mountain Home 70
  Nashville 70
Texas San Antonio 70
  Central Texas Health Care System 105
  El Paso Outpatient Clinic 35
  Houston 385
  Dallas 105
Utah Salt Lake City 35
Virginia  Hampton 140
  Richmond 35
  Salem 35
Vermont White River Junction 20
Washington Seattle 105
  American Lake 35
  Spokane 35
  Walla Walla 70
Wisconsin Milwaukee 70
  Tomah 35
West Virginia Huntington 35
  Clarksburg 35
  Martinsburg 35
Wyoming Cheyenne 35
  Sheridan 35
  TOTAL 10,105

* VA Medical Centers’ coverage areas often extend beyond the metropolitan areas in which they are located.

-------------------------

posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org

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