O'halleran Successfully Secures Housing Pilot Program for Homeless and At-Risk Pinal County Veterans

Press Release

After months of working with veteran service organizations, community health programs, the Pinal County Housing Authority, and the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System in Tucson, Congressman Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) announced that a pilot program to house homeless and at-risk veterans in Pinal County would be launched.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program is a collaborative program be VA that assists homeless veterans and their families in finding and sustaining permanent housing. An existing audit failure and lack of accurate data prevented HUD-VAetween HUD and the VA that assists homeless veterans and their families in finding and sustaining permanent housing. An existing audit failure and lack of accurate data prevented HUD-VASH vouchers from being allocated to Pinal County. Existing data did not properly capture how many veterans would be eligible for the program. O'Halleran and his staff secured a pilot program that would allow HUD-VASH vouchers to be ported to Pinal County.

"Our veterans served with honor, and when they return from defending our country they deserve our support and respect. I will not sit by while homee VA that assists homeless veterans and their families in finding and sustaining permanent housing. An existing audit failure and lack of accurate data prevented HUD-VAless veterans in Pinal County and across Arizona go without food and shelter," O'Halleran said. "Access to reliable housing is critical for the long-term success of our veterans as they seek employment and educational opportunities. HUD-VASH has given that stability to tens of thousands of veterans across the country, and it will be an important resource for Pinal County."

According to data later compiled by NCHP, 10 veterans in Pinal county would be eligible through VA standards. However, this is does not accurately reflect the need. The data only captures veterans who have sought out services though the Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) program managed by NCHP. The pilot program will provide two to four vouchers as e VA that assists homeless veterans and their families in finding and sustaining permanent housing. An existing audit failure and lack of accurate data prevented HUD-VAa supplement to the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program.

O'Halleran's efforts were recently praised by the National Community Health Partners and the Pinal County Housing Authority.

""It is amazing what can be accomplished if you do not care who gets the credit" - President Harry Truman. Very selfless words. However, it must be said, due to the tireless undertaking of Congressman O'Halleran and his staff in Pinal county and his Casa Grande office, the piloting of HUD-VASH Vouchers in Pinal county will take place. Their efforts in bringing stakeholders together and discussing what HUD-VASH Vouchers are and how they assist in housing homeless veterans and families was instrumental in securing the vouchers. On behalf of all the veterans National Community Health Partners serves in Pinal, La Paz, and Yuma counties, we salute you and thank you."

- National Community Health Partners Board of Directors and Staff

"We would like to express our sincere gratitude and thank Congressman O'Halleran and his staff for all they have done to bring Veterans Administration Supportive Housing (VASH) Vouchers to Pinal County. They have accomplished something we have been working on for years, without success, and we are very excited to have this opportunity for our military veterans. It has been a pleasure to work with Ms. Mendoza from Congressman O'Halleran's staff, and be able to witness firsthand her passion to help our veterans. We appreciate your awareness of our affordable housing shortage, particularly for our former warriors. You are a hero for our heroes!"

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