WILMINGTON – U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Joseph J. DeFelice today announced the awarding of $83,607 in rental assistance and housing vouchers to help 10 veterans at-risk of experiencing homelessness in Delaware. The funding, part of the $46 million in grants awarded nationwide, 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 the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
In Delaware, the Delaware State Housing Authority will receive $39,332 in funding to support housing for five (5) veterans and the New Castle County Housing Authority will receive $44,275 to support housing for an additional five (5) veterans. Both agencies will receive supportive services by the Wilmington VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Wilmington, Del.
A component of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, the HUD-VASH vouchers being awarded today enable homeless veterans to obtain affordable, decent housing in the private market. These vouchers are critical tools in helping communities effectively end homelessness among veterans.
“Ending veteran homelessness has been a top priority for the Trump Administration since day one,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson in a statement. “We have an obligation to ensure that our nation’s veterans, who have given so much for our country are not left out on the streets. They fought for us, now it’s time for us to fight for them.”
“The HUD-VASH program is the driving force behind the decline in veteran homelessness and in Delaware, one of only three states in the nation to have effectively ended veteran homelessness, it is a priority for those championing the First State’s efforts,” added DeFelice in a statement. “During this pandemic, it is critical that we provide a safety net for our most vulnerable populations—especially those who have honorably served our nation.”
“Wilmington VA is pleased to partner with the community and HUD and expand housing and services for our most vulnerable veterans,” stated Vincent Kane, Director of the Wilmington VAMC. “Now more than ever during this pandemic we view supportive housing as essential to our mission of delivering safe and exceptional healthcare.”
In the HUD-VASH program, VA Medical Centers assess veterans experiencing homelessness before referring them to local housing agencies for these vouchers. Decisions are based on a variety of factors, most importantly the duration of homelessness and the need for longer term, more intensive support in obtaining and maintaining permanent housing. The HUD-VASH program includes both the rental assistance the voucher provides and the comprehensive case management that VAMC staff offers.
Veterans participating in the HUD-VASH program rent privately owned housing and generally contribute no more than 30 percent of their income toward rent. VA offers eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services through its medical centers across the U.S., Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
