The U.S. Department HUD Awards $517,329 To The Housing Authority Of The City Of Tampa In An Effort To Provide Aid To Veterans
TAMPA (July 25, 2011)---The Department of Housing and Urban Development just awarded the Housing Authority of the City of Tampa 75 additional vouchers, which equals to more than a half a million dollars to assist our local veterans who are either homeless or find themselves unable to pay full market rent. Since 2000, the Housing Authority of the City of Tampa has successfully assisted 290 veterans with housing utilizing HUD-VASH funds. The announcement came last week when HUD revealed that $46.2 million would be released to public housing agencies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The HUD-VA Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) program began in 1992 as a collaboration between the VA and HUD whereby HUD provides housing to homeless veterans through a set-a-side of Section 8 vouchers and the VA provides supportive services to those veterans needing further assistance. As of 2011, the HUD-VASH program has issued more than 17,000 vouchers to deserving veterans through housing authorities in all 50 states.
“For those brave and courageous men and women who served unselfishly,” said Hazel Harvey, Chairperson for the Tampa Housing Board of Commissioners. “I’m thrilled that THA was awarded the opportunity to become a partner in providing assistance to those who gave so much and now find themselves homeless”
This funding to local housing agencies is part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to end long-term chronic homelessness for Veterans by 2015. Homeless veterans are referred to the public housing agencies for these vouchers, based upon a variety of factors, most importantly the need for and willingness to participate in case management.
“We have an obligation to look out for those who put themselves in harms way,” said Jerome Ryans, President and CEO of the Tampa Housing Authority. “The housing authority will ensure that the additional vouchers help to eliminate homelessness among the Veterans in many of our local communities.”
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The Housing Authority of the City of Tampa promotes the development and professional management of a variety of affordable housing opportunities, facilities and supportive services to nurture neighborhoods, provide economic development self-sufficiency activities to residents while also assuring equal access to safe, quality housing for low and moderate income families throughout the community.
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