Rep. Matsui Announces $650,000 in Federal Funding to Help House Homeless Veterans in Sacramento
SACRAMENTO, CA – June 7, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (D-Sacramento) today announced that Sacramento County will receive $650,637 this year from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Program. This amount represents a 14-percent increase over last year’s funding for the VASH Program, which makes vouchers available for Sacramento-area displaced veterans and their families. Funds will be available through the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA).
“I am pleased to announce this robust funding for the VASH Program, because it is our responsibility to provide our local veterans and their families with shelter,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Sacramento continues to stand up and support our service men and women in their time of need, as they have stood for us in ours. The VASH Program is critical in housing our homeless veterans.”
Sacramento veterans and their families qualifying for VASH vouchers will be afforded the opportunity to elect their housing options through the voucher program, much like those receiving aid from the Housing Choice Voucher program. Additionally, the Mather Veterans Affairs Medical Center will utilize a portion of the VASH funding to provide case management to help veterans and their families.
“This award is great news for Sacramento County and our ongoing efforts to assist homeless veterans and their families with housing and supportive services that are so essential to getting their lives back on track,” said La Shelle Dozier, Executive Director of the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency. “This is a joint effort between SHRA and the Veterans Administration Center. Last year we received 70 vouchers to assist homeless veterans with housing and we are hearing how these vouchers have helped these families in becoming more stable so they can begin to rebuild their lives. This new award of VASH funding will support about 75 vouchers that will help replace the hopelessness of life on the street with opportunities for stability, employment and self-sufficiency.”
The HUD-VASH program is a unique collaborative project between the U.S. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, which aims to move homeless veterans and their families into stable housing and provide them with support services to improve their quality of life. In this partnership, SHRA will provide the vouchers for permanent housing to homeless veterans and the Mather VA Medical Center will provide veterans with case management and supportive services.
Contact:
MARA LEE
(916) 498-5600/ (202) 302-3249
