HUD AWARDS $2.5 MILLION TO PROVIDE PERMANENT HOUSING FOR 245 HOMELESS VETERANS IN MASSACHUSETTS

Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that more than $2.5 million has been awarded to provide permanent supportive housing for 245 homeless veterans in Massachusetts.

The funding is being awarded under HUD's Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH), which is providing $1.3 million to the Boston Housing Authority, $736,781 to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and $487,402 to the Northampton Housing Authority. The funding is part of $72.3 million awarded nationwide to assist 10,000 homeless veterans across the country. Under this new program, local housing authorities will work with VA Medical Centers to provide supportive services and case management to eligible homeless veterans.

"We are thankful to our nation's veterans who sacrificed so much for us when they signed up to serve this
country," said HUD Regional Director Taylor Caswell. "This program demonstrates our commitment to serve our veterans as they once served us."

HUD will allocate the housing vouchers to local public housing agencies 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.

HUD will provide housing assistance through its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher 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, 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 local housing agencies will also determine income eligibility in accordance to HUD regulations for the Housing Choice Voucher Program.

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