Washington D.C. – November 17, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded Enphront Veteran Services $347,215 to add 145 beds for homeless veterans in the Bronx. The Jackson Avenue Veterans Housing and Program Complex will receive 84 beds and the 213 Street Veterans Housing and Program Complex will receive 61 beds. Out of the 38,391 veterans living in the Bronx, an estimated 549 could be homeless. A key tool in VA’s drive to eliminate homelessness among veterans, the grants helped VA reduce the number of veterans who are homeless on a typical night last year by 15% to about 131,000 Veterans. These grants are part of more than $17 million in grants to community groups to create 1,155 beds for homeless veterans this year. The grants come as Schumer announces his three-point plan to dramatically overhaul veteran homeless programs, boost funding for critical programs that keep veterans off the streets, and improve student loan programs for veterans in New York and across the country.
“One homeless vet is one too many, and hundreds of homeless vets is simply unacceptable,” Schumer said. “Our veterans have undertaken tremendous risk to fight for our nation and for too long veterans returning from war have not received all the help and resources they need. But these grants, along with the hard work from Enphront, will help right this wrong by providing the men and women who have served our country with the assistance they need.”
In 2001, Enphront was incorporated as a national not-for-profit. Enphront’s original mission was to advocate on behalf of low-income subsidized housing residents. In 2007, the incorporation was amended to develop and provide affordable housing and services to homeless veterans and their families. Enphront created a private sector partnership with Inner City Development to provide these services in New York City and New Jersey. The grants will help in the creation of 145 beds for single male veterans, the largest population of veterans. Along with an array of social services, the housing projects are split between two locations in the Bronx, developed by Enphront’s development partners, Inner City. A third grant was awarded for a Wildwood, New Jersey location which will help create 48 beds.
On Wednesday, in response to the growing wave of veteran homelessness, Schumer announced that he is backing comprehensive veterans housing legislation called “Homes for Heroes” as part of a three-point plan to dramatically overhaul veteran homeless programs, boost funding for critical programs that keep veterans off the streets, and improve student loan programs for veterans in New York and across the country.
• Homes for Heroes – Schumer has introduced comprehensive veterans housing legislation that would expand the supply of permanent affordable housing for low-income veteran families. This would not only provide shelter for homeless veteran families, but also help prevent low-income families from falling into homelessness. The bill authorizes a $200 million assistance program for community and nonprofit organizations to purchase, build or rehabilitate housing for low-income veterans. The legislation would expand the highly successful HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program, authorizing 20,000 vouchers annually through fiscal year 2013, and making the program permanent.
• Immediately Approve New Funding for VA Homeless Program – Schumer said he will push for the immediate passage of $75 million in new funding for veteran’s homelessness programs that is included in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill. This funding will authorize 10,000 new vouchers to provide rental assistance coupled with supportive services or homeless veterans.
• Help Veterans Transition into Civilian Life – Schumer announced that he is co-sponsoring new legislation, entitled Service Member Student Loan Relief Act. The legislation will stop interest from accruing on Direct student loans for service members who are serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and in hostile areas abroad. The Higher Education Act Reauthorization of 2008 included a prospective version of this proposal that kept interest from accruing on Direct loans originated after October 2008. This legislation would apply this benefit to soldiers who currently have loans. This proposal would save the average service member an estimated $1,183 to $1,479 over the course of a 12-15 month activation period, lessening their financial burden upon their return home.
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