WASHINGTON, DC- In an effort to provide essential housing and support to homeless veterans, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced that Rhode Island will receive $167,503 in federal funding to provide housing assistance to homeless veterans.

This funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH) to the Providence Housing Authority, will provide 20 project-based vouchers to support the Arc of Blackstone Valley Veterans for Tomorrow housing project in Providence in its development of 20 units of permanent housing units for veterans in close proximity to the Providence VA Medical Center and other necessary supportive facilities.

“This critical funding will help veterans and their families put a roof over their heads and get access to the care they need, while incorporating a workforce initiative to train unemployed individuals in Human Services with a strong emphasis on Veteran recruitment and participation.  Our veterans have sacrificed greatly to serve our country, and we need to make sure they have access to the benefits and support they earned,” said Reed, who serves on the Appropriations Committee and wrote a letter of support for this grant.

“I am pleased that these additional vouchers for veterans will go a long way in reducing the incidence of homeless among our valued veterans,” said Providence Housing Authority Executive Director Stephen J. O’Rourke.

The Arc of Blackstone Valley is Rhode Island’s second oldest residential and day service provider for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and has extensive experience in the development and management of affordable community rental units.

Despite attempts by House Republicans to zero out funding for HUD-VASH, Reed not only helped secure $50 million in VASH appropriations for fiscal year 2011 to provide housing and services for 7,690 homeless veterans nationwide, but also ensured that Rhode Island would receive an additional allocation of HUD-VASH vouchers.

In July 2011, Reed announced a separate $114,275 HUD-VASH grant to provide rental housing vouchers to help 15 local veterans and their families secure stable housing.

The HUD-VASH program combines rental assistance for homeless veterans with case management and supportive services provided by the VA at the Providence VA Medical Center.

Senator Reed has been a strong supporter of housing assistance and homelessness prevention initiatives.  He introduced the Zero Tolerance for Veterans Homelessness Act and President Obama signed Reed’s Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act into law.  The HEARTH Act reauthorized the landmark McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and simplified and consolidated three competitive HUD homelessness assistance programs into one program and allowed more funding to flow to communities that can demonstrate a commitment to accomplishing the goals of preventing and ending homelessness.  For fiscal year 2011, HEARTH Act programs were funded at $1.9 billion, an increase of $40 million over the 2010 enacted level.

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