WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the availability of $78 million in HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers. These funds will be distributed to Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) nationwide, providing over 7,000 vouchers. The aim of the HUD-VASH program is to eliminate homelessness by helping veterans and their families secure permanent, sustainable housing and ensuring they have access to quality health care and supportive services.
“We are dedicated to ending veteran homelessness, and the HUD-VASH program is a crucial resource in achieving this goal,” stated HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman. “HUD is committed to partnering with housing agencies and VA Medical Centers across the country to transition veterans from the streets into affordable homes. We owe them that much.”
VA Secretary Denis McDonough added, “Even one veteran experiencing homelessness is too many. We will do everything in our power to ensure veterans receive the safe, stable housing they deserve. These vouchers are vital in our efforts, allowing VA, HUD, and our partners to offer more housing and comprehensive services to homeless and at-risk veterans. Together, we will not stop until veteran homelessness is eradicated.”
The HUD-VASH program combines HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance with the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) case management and clinical services. These services are provided to participating veterans at VA medical centers, community-based outreach clinics (CBOCs), through VA contractors, or other designated VA entities.
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of HUD, VA, and the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the number of homeless veterans has decreased by 5% since early 2020, and by 52% since 2010. Additionally, in 2023, VA and HUD permanently housed more than 46,000 homeless veterans, exceeding their goal by 22.5%.
Currently, over 113,000 HUD-VASH vouchers are administered by more than 750 PHAs. Since 2008, HUD has issued new HUD-VASH vouchers annually. Over 85,000 of these vouchers are actively leased by HUD-VASH veterans, with many more veterans issued vouchers and currently seeking housing to lease.
For more information, read the original press release from: https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_24_136