HUD AWARDS FUNDING TO PROVIDE PERMANENT HOUSING FOR HOMELESS VETERANS IN MAINE

BOSTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced today that the Maine State Housing Authority will receive $166,290 in funding to provide an additional 25 homeless veterans with permanent housing assistance through HUD's Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH), a rental assistance program that connects homeless veterans from local Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC) with rental assistance vouchers provided by local public housing agencies.

"We have pledged to end homelessness here in New England within the next ten years. These awards will help us
help the heroes and heroines who now need us to defend them," said Richard A. Walega, U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development New England Regional Director.

The grants announced today are part of a $75 million investment to support the needs of homeless veterans. HUD expects to announce a second round of funding for another 1,355 rental vouchers next month and an additional
400 project-based vouchers later this summer. Local public housing agencies that administer HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV) work closely with VAMCs to manage the program. In addition to the rental assistance,
VAMCs provide supportive services and case management to eligible homeless veterans.

HUD allocates the housing 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 VAMC with the capacity to provide case management. Local communities that receive HUD homeless
assistance will work with local VAMCs to identify eligible participants. VAMC case managers will also work directly
with local housing agencies that are administering the HUD-VASH program 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. Department of Veterans Affairs (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's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.