Congressman Cleaver Announces $290,042 for Local Veterans' Housing

Congressman Cleaver, along with U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced today that HUD will provide $72.6 million to public housing agencies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to supply permanent housing and case management for more than 10,000 homeless veterans. In Missouri’s Fifth District, the Kansas City Housing Authority will receive $290,042 for fifty vouchers to assist veterans.

“Americans owe our veterans and their families immeasurable and infinite thanks for their service to our country,” said Congressman Cleaver. “We can never repay them for their sacrifice, but we can start by making sure they have a roof over their heads, protecting their health and well-being, and making sure they have access to good, well-paying jobs. The assistance from HUD is one much-needed step forward, and these vouchers will be put to good use.”

VAMCs work closely with homeless veterans then refer them to public housing agencies for these vouchers, based upon a variety of factors, most importantly the duration of the homelessness and the need for longer term more intensive support to obtain and maintain permanent housing.  The HUD-VASH program includes both the rental assistance the voucher provides and the comprehensive case management that VAMC staff provides. The permanent supportive housing assistance announced today is provided through HUD’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH), a program administered by HUD, VA, and local housing agencies to provide permanent housing with case management and other supportive services for homeless veterans across the country.  Read a complete local breakdown of the rental vouchers announced today.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Belton, Raymore and Peculiar, Missouri. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee. Congressman Cleaver also serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus and Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.