HUD AND VA TEAM UP TO FIND PERMANENT HOMES FOR HOMELESS VETERANS IN NEW JERSEY

NEW JERSEY - To help end veteran homelessness, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is awarding $361,380 to help 41 homeless veterans in New Jersey find a permanent place to call home. The rental assistance announced today is provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program which combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by VA.

HUD-VASH works in reducing veteran homelessness because it provides funding for both the housing and supportive services that are essential for ending homelessness for tens of thousands of veterans nationwide (see local funding chart below).

"Supporting the brave men and women who served our nation is not only our honor but also our responsibility," said Secretary Julián Castro. "Joining the more than 111,000 formerly homeless veterans who have already found homes through this successful program, thousands more brave veterans will be able to start a new chapter in their lives. It's a privilege to partner with communities dedicated to ensuring that no veteran has to call the streets their home."

"New Jersey is on its way to achieving a goal that many believed impossible: ending veterans homelessness statewide," said Holly Leicht, HUD Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey. "Federal resources combined with local expertise and persistence has proven an effective and scalable strategy for solving a problem long considered intractable."

In the HUD-VASH program, VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) assess veterans experiencing homelessness before referring them to local housing agencies for these vouchers. Decisions are based on a variety of factors, most importantly the duration of homelessness and the need for longer term, more intensive support in obtaining and maintaining permanent housing. The HUD-VASH program includes both the rental assistance the voucher provides and the comprehensive case management that VAMC staff offers.

Veterans participating in the HUD-VASH program rent privately owned housing and generally contribute no more than 30 percent of their income toward rent. VA offers eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services through its medical centers across the U.S., Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and http://espanol.hud.gov.

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