Washington, DC – July 22, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today announced that the Poughkeepsie Housing Authority has been awarded $212,520 in federal funds to provide permanent housing for homeless veterans in the Mid Hudson Valley. The funds were awarded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program of which Hinchey is a steadfast supporter.
“Nobody who has served this country with honor should be living on the streets,” said Hinchey. “This program has already helped over 30 veterans in the Mid-Hudson Valley, and this additional federal funding will go to help so many more. I’m pleased that the Poughkeepsie Housing Authority will be able to use this funding to support even more veterans and expand upon the important work they have already done. I’m going to continue supporting this program and fighting to ensure that we take care of our veterans when they return home.”
The Poughkeepsie Housing Authority will use the funding to provide 25 veterans with housing vouchers. The Authority has already helped 35 veterans find housing through previously awarded funding. The program goals include promoting maximal veteran recovery and independence to sustain permanent housing in the community for the veteran and the veteran’s family.
“We look forward to continue to assist our homeless veterans while realizing our efforts pale in comparison to all they have done for us and our country,” said Stanley Merritt, Executive Director of the Poughkeepsie Housing Authority. “This is an effective collaborative program that ensures the vast majority of funds go where they belong – to the deserving veterans who need the help.”
The program was designed to address the needs of the most vulnerable homeless veterans. To be eligible for this program, veterans must be VA Health Care eligible, homeless and need to participate in case management services in order to obtain and sustain permanent independent community housing.
Eligible homeless veterans receive VA-provided case management and services to support stability and recovery from physical and mental illnesses, substance use, and functional concerns contributing to or resulting from of homelessness.
A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Hinchey served in the Pacific on the destroyer U.S.S. Marshall after graduating from high school. He is a strong proponent of veterans issue on the House Appropriations Committee. Last year, Hinchey announced he helped secure a $575,000 investment to help pay for new supportive housing in the Village of Walden for female veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan to the Hudson Valley who face difficult economic and other challenges.
