As someone dedicated to the issue of ending Veteran homelessness, I recommend you check out this article on Huffington Post's impact page. It discusses how Boston-based Housing Partnership Network members in Portland, Pittsburgh, and Madison are doing their part to expand housing opportunities for Veterans exiting homelessness. It starts as follows:
One home at a time—that's how the nation is going to end to homelessness among Veterans. Yet the persistent shortage of low-cost housing across the country is a challenge too many communities face. Success depends in large part on housing providers being willing to generate more permanent housing for Veterans.
The Housing Partnership Network is one housing provider stepping up the plate, but we need more if we're going to win this fight.
More below the fold.
You may know that the White House and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched a five-year effort in 2010 to end Veteran homelessness. As we near the end of 2015, cities across the nation are announcing they've ended homelessness among Veterans -- or are tantalizing close to ending it.
This piece exemplifies how affordable housing providers are doing their part:
From coast to coast, HPN members are breaking ground on new buildings with apartments set aside for Veterans holding Housing and Urban Development-Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers. We are freeing up units in existing apartments for Veterans exiting homelessness. And we are situating new low-income housing for Veterans and others near employment hubs to ease access to well-paying jobs.
They've helped the nation reduce homelessness among Veterans nationally by 33 percent. But there is more work to do. If we can achieve this goal, the nation will have met its minimal obligations to Veterans who've served their country. And we will have shown that ending homelessness among all Americans is possible to do, and the right thing to do.
Please read the full post to learn more.
And, as the article states:
If you know a Veteran who is homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless, refer him or her to a local VA Medical Center, where homeless coordinators are ready to help. Veterans and their families can also call 1-877-4AID-VET to get connected to VA services.
Thank you.