HUD Regional Director Joins New Hampshire Officials to Break Ground on Buckingham Place

The Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Taylor Caswell, today joined Senator John Sununu, Congressman Jeb Bradley, Governor John Lynch, and Nashua Mayor Bernie Streeter at a ceremony to break ground on Buckingham Place, 20 units of transitional housing for veterans.

"Buckingham Place will provide homes and vital services to those who need them the most - veterans and their families who deserve a place they can call home," said Caswell. "HUD's commitment to producing transitional housing units for not only veterans, but for all homeless individuals and families remains strong."

In Buckingham Place, there is $821,000 in HUD funding. Last year in New Hampshire, more than $26 million in HUD funding was awarded to help move people away from a life on the street and toward self-sufficiency.

Buckingham Place is a transitional living facility that will consist of 20 apartments and will serve as a new beginning
for honorably discharged American veterans and their families. The veterans will be provided with safe and comfortable housing, and they will have up to two years to regain skills necessary to become self-sufficient and integrate back into the community.

Buckingham Place is an extension of Harbor Homes "Veterans FIRST" transitional housing program, which was established in 2004. In the program, participants are required to remain substance free, and staff members are available to assist veterans in a therapeutic environment by providing necessary support services such as job
training, help with finding mental health and substance abuse treatment, etc.

"Returning veterans often face unique challenges in reintegrating into society, and often set themselves apart from other homeless individuals," said Caswell. "I congratulate Peter Kelleher and his staff at Harbor Homes for helping to ease that challenge for area veterans."

The facility is named in honor of Byron "Bucky" Buckingham, a World War II veteran and a long time resident of
Nashua who passed away earlier this year (Valentine's Day). Buckingham was involved in many veterans programs in leadership roles, including serving as state commander of the Military Order of the Purple Hearts, and as chairman of the Mayor's Veterans Council for the City of Nashua.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; 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 as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet and espanol.hud.gov.

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