Costa Announces $275,000 for Fresno Homeless Veterans

Press Release

Rep. Jim Costa announced Fresno County will receive $275,518 to offer rental assistance and case management to 50 homeless veterans. The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program is a jointly administered program by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

"When one out of every six in homeless shelters nationwide is a veteran, we have failed to fulfill the sacred promise we as a nation make to our service members," said Costa. "Fortunately, programs like HUD-VASH make strides toward guaranteeing that every veteran in our Valley and nationwide has a place to call home by providing comprehensive services to at-risk veterans. These funds will allow local VA officials and housing authorities to work together to offer support to our most vulnerable veterans."

Through the HUD-VASH program, homeless veterans receiving services through the VA can be referred to local housing authorities to obtain Housing Choice Vouchers for rental assistance. By combining case management from the VA and housing assistance, the program aims to give long-time homeless veterans the support needed to obtain and maintain permanent housing. Locally, Fresno Housing Authority partners with the VA's Central California Health Care System to provide support to eligible veterans with the help of HUD-VASH funding.

"Being part of a military family, I understand firsthand the sacrifices that our service members and their families give to their country," said Kendra Rogers, Fresno Housing Authority Commissioner. "We have used the HUD-VASH funds to honor that service and address the underlying challenges that lead to homelessness. These funds will allows us to continue our work with the VA to reduce the number of our Valley veterans living on the streets."

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