Huntington, WV – July 27, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) today announced the release of $165, 746 in funds from the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 to the Huntington Housing Authority to support veterans and prevent homelessness.
“It is a national disgrace that so many of our nation’s veterans remain homeless each night,” said Rep. Rahall. “Through programs like HUD’s supportive housing for veterans and improved VA healthcare funding, we can defend our veterans in the same way they have defended us.”
Roughly one-third of homeless adults have served in our Armed Services and about 131,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The funds will allow the Huntington Housing Authority to implement a HUD -Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, which combines HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance program for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services provided by Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.
“The Huntington W.Va. Housing Authority is thrilled to receive additional housing vouchers to house vulnerable veterans in need of affordable housing,” said William Dotson, Executive Director of the Huntington Housing Authority. “This group of individuals is dramatically underserved and we are pleased that Congressman Rahall has been instrumental in assisting and supporting additional funding for this high need group. “
Dotson continued, “With his assistance, we are fortunate to receive the extra vouchers that will be used to house veterans in southwest West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, and southern Ohio. The Veterans’ Administration assigns case managers to assist this special group by providing the necessary support services to keep them stabilized.”
“Our veterans deserve dignity and their country’s respect,” said Rep. Rahall. “If they end up living on the streets, then something is fundamentally wrong with our system. I am dedicated to addressing those problems. The Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program will help our men and women in uniform, so that no veteran will have to face this kind of sadness and despair. ”
