News

Filner Applauds Administration’s Plan to Provide Assistance to Homeless Veterans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2012

Washington, D.C. - In a joint announcement, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that HUD will provide $72.6 million to public housing agencies to provide permanent housing and case management for more than 10,000 homeless veterans.  This assistance is provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. 
 
“During my tenure as Chairman of the Committee, addressing the problem of homelessness among our nation’s veterans was a top priority of mine, and I will continue to work closely with President Obama to realize our goal to end veteran homelessness by 2015,” stated Filner.  “The challenge is immense, but the progress we have made so far is encouraging.”
 
Filner was especially pleased to see that San Diego is slated to receive $1.2 million for 150 grants.  “San Diego has been in the forefront of exploring innovative ideas to end the problem of homelessness, and these grants will certainly help.  I am hopeful that the lessons we are learning on how best to address veterans’ homelessness will enable us to tackle the challenge of homelessness for all of our citizens.”
 
Today’s announcement is the first of two rounds of 2012 HUD-VASH funding.  HUD expects to announce the remaining funding later this year.
 
“The HUD-VASH program has been an essential element of the President’s plan Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness and demonstrates what we can all accomplish when the federal government, states, and localities all work together to address the issues we face.”
 

-30-