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HUD   >   State Information   >   Oklahoma   >   News   >   HUDNo.2012-03-27
HUD Region VI: 12-56
HUD Contact: Patricia Campbell/Scott Hudman
(817) 978-5974 / (713) 718-3107
VA Contact: Josh Taylor
(202) 461-7216
FOR RELEASE
Tuesday
March 27, 2012

HUD, VA PROVIDE $381,311 FOR PERMANENT HOUSING AND SUPPORT FOR ADDITIONAL 90 HOMELESS VETS IN OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma City, Muskogee, and Tulsa Receive Funds

OKLAHOMA CITY - 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 $381,311 to three public housing agencies in Oklahoma to supply permanent housing and case management for an additional 90 homeless veterans, bringing the total number of vouchers in the State to 345. At the end of the release, the following information can be found:

  • List of the Oklahoma cities receiving funding;
  • Names of the housing authorities and VA Centers administering the program in those cities;
  • Number of new vouchers announced today;
  • Total number of vouchers each housing authority now has as the result of previous HUD/VASH grants combined with today's vouchers; and 
  • Today's funding.

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 public housing agencies across the country.

"It's a national disgrace that one out of every six men and women in our shelters once wore a uniform to serve our country," said HUD Secretary Donovan. "But we know that by providing housing assistance and case management services, we can significantly reduce the number of veterans living on our streets. Working together, HUD, VA and local housing agencies are making real progress toward ending veteran homelessness once and for all."

"Under the leadership of President Obama, we have made significant progress in the fight to end homelessness among veterans, but more work remains," said VA Secretary Shinseki. "The partnership between the federal government and community agencies across the country has strengthened all of our efforts to honor our veterans and keep us on track to prevent and eliminate veteran homelessness by 2015."

The grants announced today are part of $72.6 million appropriated nationally for all 50 States and the District of Columbia for Fiscal Year 2012 to support the housing needs of more than 10,000 homeless veterans. This is the first of two rounds of the 2012 HUD-VASH funding. HUD expects to announce the remaining funding by the end of this summer.

VA Medical Centers (VAMC) provide supportive services and case management to eligible homeless veterans. VAMCs work closely with these veterans and then refer them to local public housing agencies, which administer the Section 8 vouchers. Participants are chosen based upon a variety of factors, most importantly the need for, and willingness, to participate in case management.

Veterans participating in the HUD-VASH program rent privately owned housing and generally contribute no more than 30 percent of their income toward rent. The VA offers eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services through its medical centers across the U.S., Guam and Puerto Rico.

This funding to local housing agencies is part of the Obama Administration's commitment to end Veteran and long-term chronic homelessness by 2015. Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness serves as a roadmap for how the federal government will work with state and local agreements to confront the root causes of homelessness, especially among former servicemen and women.

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City Housing Authority VA Medical Center # of  vouchers Today's Funding
Oklahoma City Housing Authority of the City of Oklahoma City Oklahoma City VAMC Today: 40
Total: 185
$142,857
Muskogee Housing Authority of the City of Muskogee Jack C. Montgomery VAMC/Muskogee VAMC Today: 25
Total: 60
$92,282
Tulsa Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency Jack C. Montgomery VAMC/Ernest Childers VA OPC Today:25
Total: 100
$146,172
    Oklahoma Total Today: 90
Total: 345
$381,311

 

HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.  You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews, on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.