HUD TO PROVIDE $3.4 MILLION FOR PERMANENT RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO 580 HOMELESS VETERANS IN ALASKA, IDAHO, OREGON & WASHINGTON
Total of 1,600 Vouchers Targeted to Northwest Veterans Allocated by HUD
in Last Three Years

WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced today that an additional 580 homeless veterans in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington will get permanent housing assistance through a
HUD rental assistance program that connects homeless veterans from local Veterans Affairs Medical Centers with
HUD rental assistance vouchers provided through 19 local public housing agencies.

"Though they served and sacrificed so much for our country, too many of our veterans find themselves on the
streets and in homeless shelters," said Donovan. "Thankfully, these vouchers will provide a more permanent solution
to housing and services these veterans need."

The grants announced today are part of a $75 million investment to support nearly 8,000 additional vouchers nationwide to meet the needs of homeless veterans under HUD's Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program - HUD VASH. A total of $3,403,842 was awarded to support the additional rental vouchers in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The 580 vouchers allocated to the Northwest today under the HUD-VASH are over and above the 1,021 VASH vouchers awarded in 2008 and 2009, of which 70 vouchers were allocated to Alaska, 40 to Idaho, 245 to Oregon and 666 Washington State.

Housing authorities and VA Medical Centers serving veterans in the following Northwest are receiving the HUD-VASH rental assistance:

The grants announced today are part of a $75 million investment to support the needs of homeless veterans under HUD’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program - HUD-VASH. A total of $3,403,842 was awarded to support the additional rental vouchers in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

Under the HUD-VASH program, local public housing agencies that administer HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV) are allocated vouchers to work closely with VA medical center to manage the program that is targeted to homeless veterans. In addition to the rental assistance, the centers provide supportive services and case management.

HUD allocates the vouchers to local public housing agencies, which 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. Local communities that receive HUD homeless assistance such as a HUD Continuum of Care will work with local VA centers to identify eligible participants. VA medical center case managers will also work directly with local housing agencies to determine income eligibility and help participants find suitable housing. Veterans participating in the HUD-VASH program rent privately owned housing and generally contribute no more than 30 percent of their income toward rent. The U.S. VA offers eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services through its medical centers across the U.S and Puerto Rico.

This is the third year HUD is supporting the housing and service needs of homeless veterans across America through HUD-VASH with a total investment of $225 million that will sustain approximately 30,000 rental assistance vouchers.

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HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; 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 ad enforces the nation's
fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.