City wins funding for over 1,300 supportive homes for chronically homeless people and veterans
LOS ANGELES – Mayor Eric Garcetti today announced that 3,375 homeless veterans were housed in LA in 2014, meaning the City is more than halfway toward Mayor Garcetti’s goal of ending veterans’ homelessness in Los Angeles by the end of 2015.
“Veterans returning home often need—and deserve—more than hug and pat on the back, which is why I set a goal last year to end veterans homelessness here in LA, and as a Navy Reservist, this goal is very personal for me,” said Mayor Garcetti. “I'm very proud to announce that we are halfway to our goal.”
Last year, the Mayor pledged to end veterans’ homelessness by the end of 2015. To do so, the Mayor has joined forces with the Home for Good initiative, a public and private partnership with over 100 members, led by the United Way of Greater Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. In 2014, the City housed 3,375 homeless veterans. The Mayor and Home for Good estimate that the City still has 3,154 homeless veterans.
Mayor Garcetti also announced new federal grant funding to further progress towards his goal. This week, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) was awarded almost $13 million in new federal funds to provide housing for chronically veterans and chronically homeless people. The award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was a record allocation for Los Angeles and will provide funding for supportive housing for 747 chronically homeless individuals and families, including veterans in the City of Los Angeles. In addition to the HUD award, last week HACLA set aside 600 additional vouchers to house homeless veterans.
“In the past week, the City has secured funding for 1,347 new permanent supportive homes for homeless veterans and chronically homeless individuals and families,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “This is another important step in keeping us on pace for ensuring that every veteran in the City has a home by Christmas.”
The federal funds will be administered through HACLA, which to date, has committed 15,690 units to target homeless and chronically homeless veterans, families and the disabled, about 25% of its portfolio. As part of last week’s HACLA’s Board action, five hundred vouchers were set aside for homeless veterans who are ineligible for VA housing and health resources. These veterans are the hardest to house and without this resource would likely remain homeless. The remaining 100 vouchers will be used in conjunction with State Proposition 41 funding to build new supportive housing for homeless veterans.
“It’s a familiar sight across the city, someone holding a sign that reads – please help, I’m a Veteran. These brave individuals answered the call to help this nation in a time of need. Now, many of these people find themselves in a challenging situation for a variety of reasons. HACLA will continue to work to ensure that this City will no longer be known as the homeless capital of the nation,” said HACLA President and CEO Douglas Guthrie.
Nonprofit consultant, Shelter Partnership worked closely with HACLA to help secure this new funding.
About HACLA
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) is a state-chartered public agency. It provides the largest stock of affordable housing in Los Angeles and is one of the nation's leading public housing authorities. It is also one of the oldest, providing quality housing options and supportive services to the citizens of Los Angeles since 1938.
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