HUD AWARDS $2.6 MILLION TO HOUSING AUTHORITIES TO PROVIDE PERMANENT HOUSING FOR 440 HOMELESS VETERANS IN ALASKA, IDAHO, OREGON & WASHINGTON
Housing authorities in Anchorage, Boise, Medford, Portland, Roseburg, Seattle, Spokane, Walla Walla and King and Pierce counties to partner with VA medical centers and homeless providers

SEATTLE, WA - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Regional Director John Meyers announced today that 10
housing authorities in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington will receive $2,625,626 in rental assistance to provide permanent housing for 440 homeless veterans through the HUD- Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program
(HUD-VASH).

"We are grateful to our nation's veterans who sacrificed so much for us when they signed up to serve our country," said Regional Director John Meyers. "This program demonstrates our commitment to serve our veterans as they
once served us."

• In Alaska, the Alaska Housing Finance Agency will receive $263,066 to house 35 homeless veterans served
  by the VA in Anchorage.
  
  
• In Idaho, the Boise housing authority will receive $107,848 to house 20 veterans served by the VA's Boise medical center.
  
  
• In Oregon, the Portland housing authority will receive $469,098 to house 70 veterans served by Portland's
  VA medical center, the Douglas County authority will receive $133,736 to house 35 veterans served by
  Roseburg's VA center and the Jackson County authority will receive $173,809 to house 35 veterans served
  by White City's VA center.
  
  
• In Washington, the Seattle housing authority will receive $406,511 to house 53 veterans served by Seattle's
  VA medical center, the King County authority will receive $431,621 to house 53 veterans also served by the
  Seattle center, the Pierce County authority will receive $225.901 to house 35 veterans served by Tacoma's
  VA center, the Spokane authority will receive $165,635 to house 35 veterans serve by Spokane's VA center
  and the Walla Walla authority will receive $278,670 to house 70 veterans served by Walla Walla's VA center.

As part of the VASH program, nationwide HUD is providing approximately 10,000 rental assistance vouchers to 129 local public housing agencies to assist homeless veterans. In addition, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and HUD will link local public housing agencies with VA Medical Centers to provide supportive services and case management to eligible homeless veterans.

HUD will allocate 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 will provide housing assistance through its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program which allows
participants to rent privately owned housing. The VA will offer eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services through its medical centers across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Last year, VA provided health care to more
than 100,000 homeless veterans and other services to over 60,000 veterans in its specialized homeless programs.
The Bush Administration's proposed FY 2009 Budget seeks to double the amount of funding announced today to provide an additional $75 million to support the housing and service needs of an additional 10,000 homeless
veterans across America.

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 Housing Choice Voucher 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, 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 at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.