HUD, VA, and City of Madison Team Up to Provide Permanent Homes for Homeless Veterans

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced more than $135,000 to provide a permanent home to 25 veterans experiencing homelessness in Wisconsin. The supportive housing assistance announced today is provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program which combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by VA.

HUD is providing funding to local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) to provide permanent supportive housing to veterans through the HUD-VASH Project-based Voucher Set-Aside competition. These vouchers will enable homeless veterans and their families to access affordable housing with an array of supportive services. In Wisconsin, funding is being awarded to the Community Development Authority of the City of Madison and they will collaborate with the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital.

HUD’s 2015 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress indicates an 11% decline in homelessness overall and a 26% drop in the unsheltered homeless population since 2010, when President Obama launched Opening Doors, the nation’s first-ever comprehensive strategy to prevent and end homelessness. Between 2010 and January 2015, veteran homelessness declined 36 percent nationally, family homelessness declined 19 percent, and chronic homelessness declined 22 percent. In Wisconsin, family homelessness declined 11.7 percent and chronic homelessness fell by 50.3 percent.

"While we have made great strides in reducing veteran homelessness by more than a third nationally since 2010 and by 12% in Wisconsin, these vouchers will be a great resource as we continue to work tirelessly to end the travesty of veteran homelessness," said HUD Midwest Regional Administrator Antonio R. Riley.

"As we work to provide housing for hundreds of homeless, this effort, to assist those who served our country but have no home, is crucial. I am so grateful for the assistance of Senator Baldwin and the support from HUD and the Veterans Hospital for these vouchers to support our efforts," said Mayor Soglin. "Permanent supportive housing, like the Rethke Avenue project, which includes services such as case managers for residents, is part of our long term strategy as we work to eliminate homelessness. These vouchers will play a critical role in our efforts."

"We have a shared responsibility to meet the needs of veterans who served our nation and who experience homelessness," said U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, "I applaud the Obama Administration for investing in Wisconsin’s efforts to support our veterans and I’m proud to support this collaboration between the Community Development Authority of the City of Madison and the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital to serve those who have bravely served this nation."

Last month, HUD and the VA also announced a demonstration to expand HUD-VASH into Native American communities to assist Veterans who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. HUD is offering $4 million in grant funding to Indian tribes and Tribally Designated Entities (TDHEs) to fund approximately 600 vouchers and associated administrative fees. Read HUD’s Notice on the Implementation of the Tribal HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program.
 

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