NYS DHCR Receives Additional Federal Funds to Help Homeless Veterans

• by New York State Division of Housing & Community Renewal

ALBANY, NY (07/08/2010)(readMedia)-- The New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) has received an award of $1 Million from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that will help provide permanent housing for homeless veterans. The award will support 100 additional vouchers through HUD's Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) initiative.

DHCR first received VASH funding in May 2008, and since that time has helped to house 237 veterans with VASH vouchers in Suffolk and Westchester counties. The agency recently expanded the successful program into Nassau, Steuben and Lewis Counties.

Brian Lawlor, commissioner of DHCR and President/CEO of "nyhomes" said "The VASH program and our partnership with HUD have helped us to provide both housing and supportive services to brave men and women who have served and protected our country. It is a fitting way to thank them, and to demonstrate that we do not take their service for granted."

HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said, "These grants are providing real hope to our homeless veterans who might otherwise be forced to live on our streets. With this additional funding, we'll be able to put a total of nearly 9,000 new vouchers in local communities across the country to help those who served and sacrificed so much for us."

DHCR will distribute the 100 vouchers to the following local programs:

• 25 Vouchers to the Nassau County Office of Housing and Homeless Services, to be administered in partnership with the Northport Veterans Administration Medical Center;

• 25 Vouchers to the Tri-County Housing Council's Steuben County program, to be administered in partnership with the Bath Veterans Administration Medical Center;

• 25 Vouchers to Lewis County Opportunity's Jefferson County program, to be administered in partnership with the Watertown Veterans Administration Medical Center;

• 25 Vouchers to the Westchester County Planning Department, to be administered in partnership with the Montrose Veterans Administration Medical Center.

"This program provides critical assistance to those who have worn our nation's military uniforms and are in need of a home," said Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki. "VA and HUD will continue to work in partnership to end homelessness among veterans."

This is the third year HUD is supporting the housing and service needs of homeless veterans across America through HUD-VASH with a total investment of $225 million that will sustain approximately 30,000 rental assistance vouchers. Veterans participating in the HUD-VASH housing assistance program rent privately owned housing and generally contribute no more than 30 percent of their income toward rent.

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Updated 08/24/2010 at 09:40 AM EDT