Costa Announces Funding to Help Homeless Veterans in Fresno and Merced Counties
FRESNO, CA – December 22, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — Rep. Jim Costa (CA-16) announced that the Fresno Housing Authority has been awarded $121,319 and the County of Merced Housing Authority has been awarded $79,981 to provide case management and rental assistance to homeless veterans. The Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program is jointly operated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Since 2008, the HUD-VASH program has served nearly 75,000 veterans nationwide.
“Our veterans have honored our nation through their service to our country’s armed forces, putting the needs of our nation above their own. We must ensure that they have a place to call their own and the tools necessary to lead productive lives,” said Costa. “The funds awarded to the Housing Authorities of Fresno and Merced Counties will allow them to continue their efforts to end homelessness among Valley veterans.”
“The funding provided through the HUD-VASH Program to the agency will help homeless veterans find permanent supportive housing,” said County of Merced Housing Authority Executive Director Rennise Ferrario. “Since 2012, we have been able to serve more than 25 homeless veterans through the HUD-VASH program locally. The current award will allow us to provide an additional 15 homeless veterans with housing assistance. The funding provides a critical resource in addressing homelessness among veterans in our community. We all have a responsibility to ensure that after serving our county and returning home, that all of our veterans have housing and a place they can call home. We owe it to them.”
Fresno Housing Authority Executive Director and CEO Preston Prince added, “These important federal funds enable Fresno Housing to collaborate in community-wide efforts which focus on providing permanent supportive housing for veterans who have honorably served our country and are now experiencing homelessness. Fresno Housing, with the Department of Veterans Affairs, follows the Housing First strategy, in which homeless individuals are housed and then provided services to meet the conditions in their lives that led to their homelessness.”
Through the HUD-VASH program, homeless veterans receiving services through the VA can be referred to local housing authorities to obtain VASH vouchers for rental assistance. By combining case management from the VA and housing assistance, the program aims to give longtime homeless veterans the support needed to obtain and maintain permanent housing. Locally, Fresno Housing Authority partners with the Fresno Veterans Affairs Medical Center to provide support to eligible veterans with the help of HUD-VASH funding.
