U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., announced $2.3 million in statewide funding to house veterans through the HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program, better known as VASH, on Tuesday.
The program combines rental assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with the Department of Veterans Affairs’ case management and clinical services. Vancouver Housing Authority was awarded $385,740 for the program, which started in 2008.
“As a nation we have a responsibility to take care of our veterans, and I’m glad these critical investments will help ensure no Washingtonian who has sacrificed for our country ends up on the street,” Murray said in a news release.
“I have long fought to defend and strengthen the HUD-VASH program because I’ve seen how guaranteeing veterans have access to safe, supportive housing can change their lives and provide vital stability to those most vulnerable to homelessness,” Murray said. “And as a voice for Washington state, as well as service members and veterans across the nation, I’ll keep fighting for our veterans to give them the helping hand and resources they need to get back on their feet and not just live, but thrive.”
The number of homeless veterans counted on a single day in Clark County rose from 37 in 2018 to 55 this year, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
