HACA RECEIVES 25 NEW VOUCHERS TO HELP HOMELESS VETERANS FIND PERMANENT HOMES

HACA has received 25 additional vouchers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), bringing the agency’s total HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program allocation to 489. The distribution is part of an ongoing effort by HUD and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to end veteran homelessness.

The HUD-VASH Program combines rental assistance from HUD coupled with case management and VA clinical services. HUD-VASH reduces veteran homelessness by providing funding for both the housing and supportive services for thousands of veterans nationwide, including those living in the capital of Texas.

“These vouchers are the least we can do for veterans in Austin who have selflessly served our country, but now have nowhere to call home,” said HACA President and CEO Michael Gerber. “This program allows our community to better serve those who are struggling with homelessness and insufficient services.”

In the HUD-VASH program, VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) assess veterans experiencing homelessness before referring them to local housing agencies like HACA for these vouchers.

Decisions are based on a variety of factors, most importantly the duration of homelessness and the need for longer term, more intensive support in obtaining and maintaining permanent housing. The HUD-VASH program includes both the rental assistance the voucher provides and the comprehensive case management that VAMC staff offers.

Veterans participating in the HUD-VASH program rent privately owned housing and generally contribute no more than 30 percent of their income toward rent. Since 2008, more than 87,000 vouchers have been awarded nationally, and more than 144,000 homeless U.S. veterans have been served through the HUD-VASH program.