The U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Veterans Affairs launched a series of workshops known as the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Boot Camps. The HUD-VASH program combines case management and therapeutic services from the VA with Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance for homeless veterans, according to an Aug. 8 news release.
"No one who served our country should have to sleep on a park bench or live without the security of a stable home," HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge said in the release. "Addressing veterans homelessness is one of the top priorities for HUD and the Biden-Harris administration. I commend HUD’s collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and partners to equip our public housing agencies and VA medical centers with the support needed to ensure that all veterans have access to an affordable and safe place to call home."
These workshops aim to assist public housing agencies and Veteran Affairs medical centers in streamlining processes to swiftly transition homeless veterans to permanent housing with comprehensive supportive services, combining HUD's Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance with VA case management, the release reported.
HUD announced the availability of about $94.4 million in HUD-VASH April 10, the release said. This financing will enable the creation of up to 11,000 new HUD-VASH vouchers. Veterans who are homeless and their families can obtain inexpensive housing with a variety of supportive services thanks to these vouchers, which are managed in collaboration with the VA.
The official financing opportunities will start this week, and invitation letters will be sent to public housing agencies who expressed interest and were determined to be eligible, according to the release. The first HUD-VASH Boot Camps will begin in Chicago, Ill., with Dr. Richard Cho, senior advisor for housing and services at HUD, working alongside VA leadership.
In the upcoming months, there will be nine additional boot camps in each of HUD's 10 areas around the nation, the release said. The boot camps are in-person, two-day workshops that emphasize action. There will also be a virtual gathering for those who cannot come in person. The seminars will be conducted in collaboration with representatives from HUD, VA and U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and will be facilitated by HUD and VA technical assistance providers.
Each team of public housing agencies and VA medical centers will deliberate during these seminars on how to enhance and expedite the referral of homeless veterans to HUD-VASH, the issuance of vouchers to qualified veterans and the leasing up of veterans into rental housing, the release reported. In addition, the seminars will discuss understanding trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, providing supporting services efficiently and landlord involvement.
In order to serve individuals in need and increase chances for all Americans to acquire wealth and own a home, HUD on the Road strives to make HUD more approachable, according to the release. A stronger nation that offers housing and economic possibilities to every person is what HUD leaders aim to build as they travel the country meeting with local communities.
