For the first time, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and VA today awarded $5.9 million in grants to 26 tribes to offer a permanent home and supportive services to Native American Veterans who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.  The Tribal HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (Tribal HUD-VASH) Program is a demonstration program that will combine $5.9 million in rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by VA to serve 500 Native American Veterans.

HUD Secretary Julián Castro announced the winners in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the winter meeting of the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes.

“By targeting resources directly to tribes, we can better honor the service and sacrifice of Native American Veterans who now need a roof over their heads,” said Castro.  “These heroes deserve hope for a brighter future, and by offering permanent housing solutions, combined with needed services and case management, we can work with tribes to end Veteran homelessness.”

HUD invited 30 eligible tribes to seek Tribal HUD-VASH vouchers to help house and serve hundreds of Native American Veterans who are currently experiencing homelessness or at extreme risk of becoming homeless. Twenty-six tribes, from Alaska to New Mexico, will deliver and manage the housing vouchers among their members who need them, on tribal lands.

“Targeting HUD-VASH vouchers to Veterans living on tribal lands opens new opportunities for helping Native American Veterans exit homelessness as quickly as possible” said VA Secretary Bob McDonald.  “We are pleased that recent statutory changes to the HUD-VASH program made it possible to award these vouchers for use within Indian Country, where Native American Veterans have existing support systems that can be aided by those provided under the HUD-VASH program to help the Veterans remain stably housed.”

Since 2008, more than 79,000 vouchers have been awarded and approximately 103,000 homeless Veterans have been served through the broader HUD-VASH program. Rental assistance and supportive services provided through HUD-VASH are a critical resource for local communities in ending homelessness among our nation’s Veterans.  In FY2015, Congress authorized funding for a demonstration program in order to expand the HUD-VASH program into Indian Country and directed HUD to coordinate with Indian Tribes, tribally designated housing entities (TDHEs), and other appropriate tribal organizations on the design of this program, and to ensure the effective delivery of housing assistance and supportive services to eligible Native American Veterans.

The Tribal HUD-VASH Program will provide rental assistance and supportive services to Native American Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness living on or near a reservation or other Indian areas.  HUD is making available $5.9 million in grant funding to Indian Tribes and TDHEs to fund rental assistance and associated administrative fees. Indian Tribes and TDHEs participating in this program will partner with VA to provide healthcare assistance to eligible Native American Veterans.

 

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14 Comments

  1. Michael Louis Cucuiat January 17, 2016 at 13:43

    That’s all fine and dandy, but from what I understand these Native Americans are already getting a large chunk of change, especially the tribes to that own Casinos. I’m a homeless veteran for 2 years. They haven’t done anything for me. Why not focus on veterans that have very little resources. I don’t know what the odds are of this message will be published, but I hope it does. I’m not just talking about myself, but the 90% of other veterans that I talk to daily in the Los Angeles area. Hope these government workers can instead of talking a lot, start putting a little effort into their cushy jobs and deliver.

  2. Dakota wolfchild January 16, 2016 at 23:32

    Is there any help for civilian natives at the tip of the spear in Indian country to recover from what the 150 years worth of military involvement has done to us even if we don’t sign up?

  3. Glenn Craiger January 16, 2016 at 10:53

    It is wonderful that another group has been singled out for special treatment. I would guess that there are 500 or more veterans on the street in any large city in the USA. Wonder if this program will be extended. Special groups of veterans and severally injured veterans get special help from the VA and civilian charities. Run of the mill vets “that have home” and get by, get to stay in them until they croak waiting for an appointment.

  4. Kathie Davis January 15, 2016 at 15:14

    I think that’s great. They deserve it. My question is why can’t I use my VA loan? They won’t even talk to me because I don’t have a credit rating. I’m a disabled veteran. They need to change their advertising because it’s wrong.

  5. Wanda Britten January 15, 2016 at 14:52

    This sounds like a really good program for homeless veterans. It would be nice to have this program in the Albany Ga area. I am a veteran and I am on the verge of being homeless. I am on a fixed income. I live with my brother but I need my on space. Please help in this area.

  6. Toki Tover January 12, 2016 at 18:53

    It is sad that any and all veterans even have to deal with homelessness. I think any veteran should be given a home regardless. How about cutting congress salaries and bonuses and give to all military!

  7. CWD January 12, 2016 at 15:32

    MOST EXCELLENT INDEED !!!

  8. Shiakoda Qka January 12, 2016 at 09:38

    Thats fantastic!!! It just needs to keep growing and not fall back.

  9. Harrel Spann January 11, 2016 at 14:42

    hy not the tribes on the east coast get housing??

  10. Dorene P. Wiese January 11, 2016 at 01:26

    Does this program address of the needs of tribal homeless veterans who live in urban areas as that is where the majority are homeless?

  11. Jerry Williams January 11, 2016 at 01:13

    Excellent news. I wish they would use that money to build sustainable homes on Tribal land called Earth Ships. Michael Reynolds has a dream of saving humanity from itself by building homes of garbage that use the temperature of the earth to stay between 68 to 72 degrees all year around, so no electric bill. Solar panels and wind turbines for your energy, a roof that gathers water from the sky and deposits it in cisterns and an indoor system that reuses gray water to hydrate your indoor solarium/veggie garden and to flush the toilet out into an earth covered pit to grow fruit trees or landscaping. The house uses old tires which are plentiful and free, to build an earth berm around much of the house, so you are safe from the elements and did I mention no electric bill?
    Research on youtube: Garbage Warrior.

    • DannyG January 13, 2016 at 20:36

      Mr. Williams, Wouldn’t that be a super kick in the butt! A stable income, medical help, A permanent home on the land your People have lived on & loved for generations, & LIFE, as it should be lived!
      I HAVE to say it – its happening on Secretary McDonald ‘s watch! I told you he cares! THANK YOU, SIR! I am the grandson of Cherokee Women & LEGAL Irish immigrants – politicians promised these things to my Grandparents generations ago, but it took ONE honest, hard-working, son of an immigrant, American Veteran, non-politician,to put together a TEAM that could KEEP those promises! LIKE IT OR NOT – HONESTY ! BOOM

      I, as a Proud, Disabled (Native) American Veteran, who receives NO benefits, other than from the VETERANS Administration, am profoundly happy for the many People this will bless!
      TO MY FAMILY: We are all family, & the blessings are celebrated by all, for all, in my eyes. ALL of the People are in my prayers of gratitude.

  12. Robin Mitchell January 10, 2016 at 16:50

    5.8 MILLION to house 500 veterans? That is $116,000 each. Are these veterans getting private homes they own?

    As my husband has said: a warm cabin in Alaska beats a cold tent any day. He should know as he lived in a tent for a year after getting out of the Rangers and SF. Another couple of years off the grid in a cabin in the Yukon an old Indian friend and he built.

    You could build ‘Tiny Homes’ for these vets in a structured community and house 4 times the homeless you are so proud of housing here.

    How do I know? My husband and I bought 40 acres in Alaska not far from Homer we are doing just that on. We have a 40 foot connex of building supplies and by Gods good grace will have a couple of cabins up by the end of summer. We have one up now. With no funds from the VA.

    But, I would like to see Baghdad Bob McDonald answer Rep Lee Zeldin’s inquiry to him from last August on why he is denying a REAL Special Forces veteran that is 100% service connected disabled with TBI benefits he earned.

    Anybody around Bob with a pen or a phone?

    • Aaron Atwood January 12, 2016 at 13:42

      “5.8 MILLION to house 500 veterans? That is $116,000 each. Are these veterans getting private homes they own?”

      That is not just for housing.

      “…will combine $5.9 million in rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by VA to serve 500 Native American Veterans.”

      Which means it will help them get mental health treatment if they need it, medical treatment, and even vocational rehabilitation if they need it.

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