HUD Awards Funding to Provide Permanent Housing for Homeless Veterans

Today, Mayor Shirley Franklin joined the US Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development Regional Director Burt Wilkerson to announce $2.9 million in funding that has been awarded to the DeKalb Housing Authority and Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center to provide permanent supportive housing for homeless veterans.

The funding is being awarded under HUD’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH) in which additional rental assistance vouchers are being provided under the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. These vouchers, which are being administered by the DeKalb Housing Authority, are specifically targeted to homeless veterans. The Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center will provide outreach, supportive services and case management to eligible homeless veterans.

“This HUD funding will help Metro Atlanta expand its efforts to serve our veterans, who have given so much for our country. The money will be targeted toward providing homeless veterans with support services and the opportunity to obtain permanent housing, and I appreciate the efforts of all involved to make this program a success,” stated Mayor Shirley Franklin.

The DeKalb Housing Authority will determine income eligibility in accordance with HUD regulations for the Housing Choice Voucher Program. Under the program, veterans can use vouchers to rent privately-owned housing and pay up to 30 percent of income towards rent. The federal subsidy will make up the difference between the actual rent and what the veteran will pay.

“This $2.9 million award we celebrate today for 350 new HUD-VASH vouchers for Atlanta and DeKalb County is invested in the central antidote to homelessness – housing - to ensure that all who have served their country have a place to live,” indicated Philip Mangano, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director. “These new housing resources – along with VA services and the record $9.8 million in HUD homeless resources awarded this year - will lead to new regional results in ending homelessness for veterans and continue the success documented in the 16% decrease in chronic homelessness that was reported for Atlanta and DeKalb and Fulton Counties in this week’s federal announcement of a second consecutive annual national average 15% decline in chronic homelessness that demonstrates that we are on track to meet the Administration's goal of ending chronic homelessness.”

The funding is part of $75 million awarded nationwide to assist 10,000 veterans across the country.
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