HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-05-10 Veterans Affairs unveils HUD VASH Voucher Program -- press release
Harry Kim
Mayor
Neil S. Gyotoku
Housing Administrator
Wil Okabe
Managing Director
Duane Hosaka
Assistant Housing Administrator
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
County of Hawai‘i
Office of Housing and Community Development
50 Wailuku Drive • Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 • (808) 961-8379 • Fax (808) 961-8685
Existing Housing: (808) 959-4642 • Fax (808) 959-9308
Kona: (808) 323-4300 • Fax (808) 323-4301
HUD-VASH Vouchers to Provide Housing for Veteran’s Experiencing Homelessness
In a continuing effort to end veteran homelessness, the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have announced
an award of twenty-five (25) HUD-VASH Vouchers to the County of Hawai’i to provide
permanent homes to veterans experiencing homelessness. The supportive housing assistance
is provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program,
which combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services
provided by VA.
A component of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, the HUD-VASH vouchers
enable homeless veterans to obtain affordable, decent housing in the private market. These
vouchers are critical tools in helping communities effectively end homelessness among
veterans. Veterans participating in the HUD-VASH program rent privately owned housing and
generally contribute no more than 30 percent of their income toward rent.
In the HUD-VASH program, VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) assess veterans experiencing
homelessness before referring them to local housing agencies for these vouchers. Decisions
are based on a variety of factors, most importantly the duration of homelessness and the need
for longer term, more intensive support in obtaining and maintaining permanent housing.
The HUD-VASH program includes both the rental assistance the voucher provides and the
comprehensive case management that VAMC staff offers.
For more information about eligibility for the HUD-VASH voucher program, please contact the
Office of Housing and Community Development in Hilo at 959-4642 or the HUD VASH
Program in Honolulu at (808) 433-4769.
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
“HAWAI’I COUNTY IS AN EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER AND
EMPLOYER”