Salem Receives Additional Housing Vouchers to Help Homeless Veterans

With the additional 25 vouchers, Salem now has 88 Vouchers to Assist Homeless Vets Find Permanent Homes.

Unknown veteran in need. Photo: Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced that Salem Housing Authority will receive 25 additional vouchers to provide a permanent home to local 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.

HUD’s recent announcement awarded $18.5 million to housing authorities nationwide to help more than 2,200 veterans experiencing homelessness to find homes.

VASH vouchers are now providing permanent housing to 1,893 homeless veterans in Oregon. “Since the inception of the HUD VASH program eight years ago, HUD, the VA and Oregon housing authorities have made steady, sure and significant progress and today’s awards will speed that process,” said HUD Northwest Regional Administrator Donna Batch.

“Veterans have served our country bravely and well. A place to call home is the least we can provide in return for their service.” In the HUD-VASH program, VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) assess veterans experiencing homelessness before referring them to local housing agencies for 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. Veterans participating in the HUD-VASH program rent privately owned housing and generally contribute no more than 30 percent of their income toward rent. VA offers eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services. For questions regarding VASH vouchers in Salem, please contact Andrew Wilch, Salem Housing Authority Administrator, at awilch@cityofsalem.net or 503-587-4819. Si necesita ayunda para comprender esta información, por favor llame 503-588-6368.