Hawaii to Receive Federal Funding for Homeless Veterans Housing Program
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), a member of the Appropriations Committee and the Subcommittees on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs announced that the U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Veterans Affairs awarded $330,960 to the Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority to help provide housing for 35 homeless veterans in our state.
“One of the most basic obligations that we have to those who served our country is ensuring that each and every one of them has a roof over their head when they come home,” said Senator Schatz. “As a state and as a nation, we have a moral, social, and financial obligation to fulfill that promise. These funds will help veterans who are struggling to find a home get access to the financial assistance and counseling services they need so that they can have a place to call their own.”
This funding will provide up to 35 new affordable housing units for homeless and vulnerable veterans at the Hale Uhiwai Nalu development in Kapolei. Social services such as career and family counseling will also available to residents.
According to the 2016 Statewide Point-In-Time Count, homelessness among veterans has declined by 3% statewide and 12% on Oahu compared to 2015. In an effort to decrease homelessness among veterans, Honolulu participated in the 25 Cities Initiative, a joint effort by the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Interagency on Homelessness, and local community partners to reduce veteran homelessness.
As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Schatz has continuously supported funding for the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, homeless assistance grants, and other affordable housing programs.
The HUD-VASH funding announced today is in addition to a $1.25 million allotment received by the state in May to provide affordable housing to more than 110 homeless veterans. The combined $1.5 million in HUD-VASH funding is supporting more than 145 housing vouchers to help homeless veterans offset the cost of rental housing as well as provide them with counseling services.
