HUD OFFERS PERMANENT HOMES FOR AN ADDITIONAL 650 HOMELESS VETERANS IN ALASKA, IDAHO, OREGON & WASHINGTON
Part of $75 million HUD-VASH program to provide 10,000 rental assistance vouchers and supportive services to veterans

WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan has announced today the final allocation of 650 new rental assistance vouchers to housing authorities in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington state to provide permanent housing for homeless veterans in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The vouchers allocated today will be funded by $4,230,633 provided under the fiscal year 2009 Appropriations Act
and are over and above the 440 vouchers HUD awarded last year to housing authorities in the Northwest. The vouchers are part of the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program.

"Numerous men and women voluntarily leave their families and put their lives on the line to ensure that we, their
fellow Americans, live safely in our homes," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, who announced the $75 million in funding last month with Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki. "These vouchers offer veterans a permanent
home and critically needed supportive services to those who have served our nation."

The voucher allocations announced today include:

HUD's Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH) will provide local public housing agencies with
10,290 rental assistance vouchers specifically targeted to assist homeless veterans in their area. Public housing authorities, that administer HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV), work closely with Veteran Affairs Medical Centers to manage the program. In addition to the rental assistance, VA Medical Centers provide supportive
services and case management to eligible homeless veterans.

HUD allocates 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's HCV program (Section 8) allows participants to rent privately owned housing and generally pay no more than
30 percent of annual adjusted income. The VA will offer eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services through its medical centers across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The VA addresses the needs of more than 100,000 homeless veterans who access VA health care annually.

In the last two years, HUD has provided $150 million that will sustain 20,000 vouchers to support the housing and service needs of homeless veterans across America. In its proposed 2010 budget, the Obama Administration demonstrates its support of homeless veterans by renewing these and other special purpose vouchers.

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
HCV program.

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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 and enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the
Internet and espanol.hud.gov.