The Kentucky HUD-VASH Program

Eligible Participants [www.va.gov/HOMELESS/HUD-VASH_Eligibility.asp]: Homeless veterans and their families

The Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) program, through a cooperative partnership, provides permanent housing support by HUD and long-term case management and supportive services by Veterans Affairs (VA). HUD provides housing choice vouchers designated for HUD-VASH to participating public housing authorities (PHA) to assist with rent payment. Some of the PHA's have partnered with additional housing authorities/agencies to make the program accessible to veterans in more areas throughout Kentucky and even Southern Indiana.

Eligible homeless veterans receive VA case management and supportive services to aid in stability and recovery from physical and mental health, substance use, and functional concerns contributing to or resulting from homelessness. The program goals include promoting maximum veteran recovery and independence to sustain permanent housing in the community for the veteran and the veteran's family.

This program was designed to address the needs of the most vulnerable homeless veterans. To be eligible for this program, homeless veterans must be VA Health Care eligible and need to participate in case management services in order to obtain and sustain permanent, independent community housing.

For housing assistance, initial contact should be made to the Veterans Affairs Case Manager listed below.

KENTUCKY CONTACTS/AREAS SERVED:

VA MEDICAL CENTERS (VAMC)/Community Based Outreach Centers (CBOC)

• Covington - Cincinnati VAMC [www.cincinnati.va.gov]
• Ft. Knox - Ft. Knox Health Center/Louisville Robley Rex VAMC [www.louisville.va.gov/locations/fortknox.asp]
• Lexington - Lexington VAMC [www.lexington.va.gov]
• Louisville - Louisville Robley Rex VAMC [www.louisville.va.gov]
• Newport - Cincinnati VAMC [www.cincinnati.va.gov]
• Somerset - Somerset CBOC/Lexington VAMC [www.lexington.va.gov/locations/Somerset_Kentucky_CBOC.asp]
• Southern Indiana - New Albany Health Care Center/Louisville Robley Rex VAMC [www.louisville.va.gov/locations/newalbany.asp]

HUD Louisville Office staff raising awareness for the local "DASH for VASH" initiative include (pictured from left to right): Pat Gidron (veteran, MF), Sonja Redmon (veteran, PIH), Jason Hare (veteran, MF), Steve Thomas (CPD), Georgia Turner (PIH), David Railey (veteran, FPM), Anne Roark (PIH), and Milton Suggs (veteran, MF).

KENTUCKY DASH FOR VASH -
Is a local HUD Kentucky Office initiative designed to support the HUD-VASH program among veterans within eligible communities. Staff of the office, dressed in running gear for the occasion, visited homeless agencies, soup kitchens, and community agencies, to handout promotional materials about the program and contact information for veterans in order to attain 100 percent participation in the program.

• Louisville Pamphlet

OTHER RESOURCES:

• Housing Resources for Homeless Veterans By County
• HUD-VASH Eligibility Criteria [www.va.gov/HOMELESS/HUD-VASH_Eligibility.asp]
• Frequently Asked Questions about the HUD-VASH Program

For more information about the HUD-VASH program in Kentucky, you may contact Sonja Redmon, Office of Public Housing Revitalization Specialist, at (502) 618-8146.

###