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> [FOR RELEASE]{.underline}

HUD: Donna White (202) 708-0685 Wednesday

VA: Alison Aikele (202) 461-7435 April 16, 2008

Mayor's Office: Stu Loeser or Dawn Walker (212)788-2958

**HUD DEPUTY SECRETARY BERNARDI, VA SECRETARY PEAKE AND MAYOR BLOOMBERG
ANNOUNCE HUD AND VA TO PROVIDE PERMANENT HOUSING FOR AN ESTIMATED 10,000
HOMELESS VETERANS**

*\$75 million program to reduce the number of homeless vets nationwide*

*\$9.4 million awarded to New York City to permanently house more than
1,000 homeless veterans and*

*fulfill recommendations of joint NYC/VA Task Force on ending veteran
homelessness*

NEW YORK -- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James B. Peake
and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi
today announced \$75 million to provide permanent supportive housing for
an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans nationwide. Bernardi and Peake
made the announcement with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg at a newly
renovated housing program for homeless veterans in Queens, and
emphasized the Federal and local government's partnership to house and
support America's homeless veteran population.

New York City will receive approximately \$9.4 million to permanently
house more than 1,000 homeless veterans. Their program will be
administered by the New York City Housing Authority and the Department
of Homeless Services.

"We are deeply grateful for the service and sacrifice by our nation's
veterans and we must make every effort to help them as they struggle to
avoid a life on the streets," said Bernardi. "This program is one
opportunity to say, 'Thank You' and to make certain that we serve them
as they once served us."

"Today, VA, HUD and New York City are strengthening our long-standing
partnership on homelessness to achieve a simple vision \-- that no one
who has served and fought for their country should have to live on the
streets," said Peake. "We hope to build upon this effort soon with
another step providing more case managers to support a marked increase
in permanent housing units."

"Ending veteran homelessness is an ambitious goal that is more in reach
thanks to this historic federal commitment to provide housing for
veterans," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Our partnership with the VA has
already provided homes for hundreds of veterans over the past year and
the housing slots being allocated to New York City today will bring new
hope to more than 1,000 homeless veterans in our City.  It sends a
powerful message to the men and women currently fighting for our country
overseas -- that we do not take their service for granted."

*HUD's Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH)* will
provide local public housing agencies with approximately 10,000 rental
assistance vouchers specifically targeted to assist homeless veterans in
their area (see attached chart for a local breakdown of homeless
veterans to be assisted). In addition, the VA and HUD will link local
public housing agencies with VA Medical Centers to provide supportive
services and case management to eligible homeless veterans.

HUD will allocate the housing vouchers to local public housing agencies
(PHAs) across the country that are specifically targeted to homeless
veterans based on a variety of factors, including the number of reported
homeless veterans and the proximity of a local VA Medical Center with
the capacity to provide case management. New York City and the greater
Los Angeles area received the greatest number of vouchers using this
criterion.

HUD will provide housing assistance through its Section 8 Housing Choice
Voucher (HCV) program which allows participants to rent privately owned
housing. The VA will offer eligible homeless veterans clinical and
supportive services through its medical centers across the U.S and
Puerto Rico. Last year, the VA provided health care to more than 100,000
homeless veterans and other services to over 60,000 veterans in its
specialized homeless programs. The Bush Administration's proposed FY
2009 Budget seeks to double the amount of funding announced today to
provide an additional \$75 million to support the housing and service
needs of an additional 10,000 homeless veterans across America.

Local communities or "Continuums of Care" that receive HUD homeless
assistance will work with local VA Medical Centers to identify eligible
participants. The VA will then screen homeless veterans to determine
their eligibility. Those eligible vets will receive treatment and
regular case management to retain the voucher. VA Medical Center case
managers will also work closely with local housing agencies to help
participants find suitable housing. Participating PHAs will also
determine income eligibility in accordance to HUD regulations for the
HCV program.

New York City's Department of Homeless Services will use the 1,000
vouchers, supplemental veterans treatment and case management services
announced today to help achieve permanent and sustained housing status
for all homeless veterans. In December 2006, the VA and the City of New
York reached an historic agreement to address ending veteran
homelessness in New York City. Under the agreement, the City vowed to
place 100 veterans into permanent housing in 100 days, surpassing the
goal with 135 veterans moving during that period, and subsequently
succeeded in placing more than 400 veterans into homes of their own in
2007. The VA and the City also convened a joint Task Force that created
a strategic plan to end veteran homelessness in New York City. Among the
Task Force recommendations were the creation of a jointly operated
VA/NYC multi-service center to serve as a one-stop site to access
services for homeless veterans, scheduled to open in the Summer of 2008;
the creation of a veteran-only SAFE HAVEN as an alternative to the
shelter system to open in the Summer/Fall 2008 and veteran-specific,
short-term housing site for those working towards permanent housing.

\###

> *HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing
> homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable
> housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the
> homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with
> AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development
> and enforces the nation\'s fair housing laws. More information about
> HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at
> [www.hud.gov]{.underline} and [espanol.hud.gov.]{.underline}*
>
> *Secretary James B. Peake, M.D. serves as the chair the U.S.
> Interagency Council on Homelessness, the federal coordinating body
> addressing issues of homelessness. Recently, VA announced a reduction
> of homeless veterans from more than 195,000 to about 154,000. Today,
> VA supports more than 15,000 beds in transitional housing facilities
> or in VA residential treatment programs nationwide and recently
> announced \$37 million to fund at least 2,250 new transitional housing
> beds by giving grants to local providers this year. The Department is
> the largest federal provider of direct assistance to the homeless,
> including outreach and case management, treatment, rehabilitation,
> transitional residential care, therapeutic work and assistance with
> permanent housing. As part of its homelessness programs, VA also
> supports special programs for the treatment and rehabilitation of
> those suffering from mental illness and addictive disorders.*
>
> *For more information, visit VA's grant and per diem program Web page
> at
> [www.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=3](http://www.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=3)
> or contact VA's grant and per diem program office toll free at
> 1-877-332-0334, or e-mail VA at homelessvets@mail.va.gov.*

  ----------------------- -------------------------- --------------------
  **State**               **VA Medical Center        **Estimated \# of
                          Location\***               homeless veterans to
                                                     be assisted**

  Alaska                  Anchorage                  35

  Alabama                 Birmingham                 105

                          Tuscaloosa                 35

                          Tuskegee                   35

  Arkansas                Little Rock                105

                          Fayetteville               35

  Arizona                 Tucson                     70

                          Phoenix                    105

                          Prescott                   35

  California              San Francisco              105

                          Greater Los Angeles        840

                          Loma Linda                 35

                          Central CA Health Care     35
                          System                     

                          Palo Alto                  70

                          Northern CA Health Care    35
                          System                     

                          San Diego                  105

                          Long Beach                 70

  Colorado                Denver                     175

                          So. Colorado               35

  Connecticut             West Haven                 70

  District of Columbia    Washington, DC             140

  Delaware                Wilmington                 35
  ----------------------- -------------------------- --------------------

  ----------------------- -------------------------- --------------------
  Florida                 Tampa                      105

                          Orlando                    70

                          W. Palm Beach              105

                          Bay Pines                  105

                          Gainesville                140

                          Gulf Coast Health Care     35
                          System                     

                          Miami                      105

  Georgia                 Augusta                    35

                          Atlanta                    350

                          Dublin                     35

  Hawaii                  Honolulu                   70

  Iowa                    Central Iowa               35

                          Iowa City                  35

  Idaho                   Boise                      20

                          Chicago WS                 105

                          Hines                      70

                          N. Chicago                 35

  Indiana                 Indianapolis               70

                          N. Indiana                 35

  Kansas                  Topeka                     35

                          Wichita                    35

                          Leavenworth                105

  Kentucky                Louisville                 70

                          Lexington                  35

  Louisiana               Shreveport                 35

                          New Orleans                140

                          Alexandria                 35

  Massachusetts           Boston                     105

                          Northampton                70

                          Bedford                    70

  Maryland                Perry Point                70

                          Baltimore                  105

  Maine                   Togus                      35

  Michigan                Ann Arbor Health Care      70
                          System                     

                          Saginaw                    35

                          Battle Creek               35

                          Detroit                    105

  Minnesota               Minneapolis                70

  Missouri                Kansas City                70

                          St. Louis                  35

                          Columbia                   35

  Mississippi             Jackson                    35

  Montana                 Montana Health Care System 35

  North Carolina          Asheville                  35

                          Durham                     35

                          Salisbury                  35

  North Dakota            Fargo                      35

  Nebraska                Omaha                      35

                          Gr. Nebraska               35

  New Hampshire           Manchester                 35

  New Jersey              East Orange                35

                          Lyons                      35
  ----------------------- -------------------------- --------------------

  ----------------------- -------------------------- --------------------
  New Mexico              New Mexico Health Care     35
                          System                     

  Nevada                  Sierra Nevada Health Care  70
                          System                     

                          Southern Nevada Health     105
                          Care System                

  New York                Syracuse                   35

                          Bronx                      385

                          Brooklyn                   455

                          New York                   175

                          Albany                     35

                          Canandaigua                35

                          Buffalo                    35

                          Montrose                   105

                          Northport                  35

  Ohio                    Columbus Outpatient Clinic 35

                          Cleveland                  105

                          Cincinnati                 70

                          Dayton                     35

                          Chillicothe                35

  Oklahoma                Oklahoma City              35

                          Muskogee                   35

  Oregon                  Portland                   70

                          Roseburg                   35

                          White City                 35

  Pennsylvania            Pittsburgh                 70

                          Philadelphia               105

                          Butler                     35

                          Coatesville                105

                          Erie                       35

                          Wilkes-Barre               35

                          Lebanon                    70

  Puerto Rico             San Juan                   20

  Rhode Island            Providence \`              35

  South Carolina          Charleston                 70

                          Columbia                   70

  South Dakota            Hot Springs                35

                          Ft. Meade                  35

  Tennessee               Memphis                    105

                          Mountain Home              70

                          Nashville                  70

  Texas                   San Antonio                70

                          Central Texas Health Care  105
                          System                     

                          El Paso Outpatient Clinic  35

                          Houston                    385

                          Dallas                     105

  Utah                    Salt Lake City             35

  Virginia                Hampton                    140

                          Richmond                   35

                          Salem                      35

  Vermont                 White River Junction       20

  Washington              Seattle                    105

                          American Lake              35

                          Spokane                    35

                          Walla Walla                70

  Wisconsin               Milwaukee                  70

                          Tomah                      35

  West Virginia           Huntington                 35

                          Clarksburg                 35

                          Martinsburg                35

  Wyoming                 Cheyenne                   35

                          Sheridan                   35

                          **TOTAL**                  **10,105**
  ----------------------- -------------------------- --------------------

**\*** VA Medical Centers' coverage areas often extend beyond the
metropolitan areas in which they are located.