HUD Joins VA and City of Atlanta to Recognize Progress in Ending Veteran Homelessness

HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Ed Jennings Jr. addressing the audience; Mayor Kasim Reed and VA Atlanta Medical Center Wiggins seated

Audience members listening intently at City of Refuge, Atlanta, GA announcement

HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Ed Jennings, Jr. joined Veterans Administration Atlanta Medical Center Director Leslie Wiggins in recognizing the city of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed for the city's progress to end Veteran homelessness by the end of 2015 at a recent ceremony at the City of Refuge (http://cityofrefugeatl.org/) in Atlanta.

They accompanied Mayor Kasim Reed as he announced that the city of Atlanta made significant progress in its effort to move all homeless veterans into permanent supportive housing, putting the city on a path to meet President Obama's goal of ending veteran homelessness across the country by 2015.

"It is tribute to the vision and leadership of Mayor Reed that the City closed in on the goal of ending Veteran homelessness in 2015," said Jennings. "Mayor Reed was also the first Georgia Mayor to also commit to the White House's Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness this year."

"No one who has served our country should have to sleep outside," said Mayor Kasim Reed. "Because of the progress the city of Atlanta and our partners have made, our goal of moving all homeless veterans into permanent, supportive housing is within sight. Through collaboration and cooperation, we can solve veteran's homelessness in our city this year."

The city of Atlanta Continuum-of-Care works with federal, state and regional partners on a series of short-term campaigns, starting with a push to house at least 300 veterans in the next 100 days. The Continuum-of-Care will then work to house at least 75 veterans each month to reach the goal of housing all homeless veterans in the city by December 31, 2015. "I believe this collaborative effort between the city, federal, state and local partners, will be the key to ending veterans homelessness in the metropolitan Atlanta area," said Leslie Wiggins, Director of the Atlanta VA Medical Center, who joined Mayor Reed for today's announcement. "Stakeholders are breaking down barriers, agreeing on common goals and establishing the pathways to serve this deserving population. Together, with the leadership of Mayor Reed, we will house all veterans in Atlanta by the end of 2015."

The announcement concludes a series of workshops with the city of Atlanta Continuum-of-Care, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), the Bureau of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Atlanta Housing Authority, Dekalb Housing Authority, Fulton County and the United Way of Greater Atlanta. These partner groups came together to develop the 100 day push to house 300 veterans and subsequent efforts to house 75 veterans per month until the end of the year. These groups will continue to work together on a long-term, strategic plan to eliminate chronic homelessness in the metropolitan Atlanta area.

Veterans in need of supportive housing are invited to call (404) 574-1681 for resources and help and may also go to HUD Homeless Information.

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