HUD Hosts Veteran's Workshop

Stephen Murphy, Senior Advisor in the NY Regional Office, speaks to attendees while Migdalia Murati, Single Family Program Advisor, listens attentively

Believing it can do more to help to members in the Armed Forces, the New York Regional Office just hosted a real estate workshop to educate real estate and mortgage professionals on providing housing and home buying services to veterans. The workshop was aligned with the overall goals of President Obama's "Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness", called "Opening Doors."

"I'm very proud to work for this administration, which has set firm goals and made true progress toward assisting veterans and providing one of life's essential needs - shelter - to the people who have given the fullest measure of devotion to our country - our servicemen and women," said Stephen Murphy, Senior Advisor in the NY Regional Office. It should be noted that Stephen filled in for Deputy Regional Administrator Mirza Orriols who had to attend a Headquarters meeting on the day of the event.

Implemented in 2010, the federal strategic plan aligns mainstream housing, health, education, and human services to prevent Americans from experiencing homelessness. It put us on a path to end veterans homelessness and chronic homelessness by 2015; and to end homelessness among children and families by 2020.

HUD and its partner agencies have already seen veterans' homelessness drop 12 percent nationwide. Under the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program (HUD/VASH):

• Housed over 28,000 veterans nationwide; and
• In New York City alone, HUD and the VA have housed 1,400 formerly homeless veterans utilizing the HUD/VASH vouchers.

The success in New York City has been possible due to the combined work of several different organizations, including: the NYC Department of Homeless Services, NYCHA, the VA, and HUD.

The workshop was put together by Migdalia Murati, Single Family Program Advisor in the New York Regional Office, along with Andrea Hodge, Regional Veterans Coordinator, who were both supported by Sam Miller and Henry Comas. Speakers included Samuel Mantilla, the NYC VA Regional Office; Marie Cammarata, New York State Housing & Community Renewal/SONYMA; Joseph Sluszka, Albany Housing Coalition; Beverly Ray Frase, and Mary Ann Pino, USA Cares.

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