Senator Reed Announces Nearly $115,000 to Help Homeless Veterans in Rhode Island

Veterans Health Administration sent this bulletin at 07/18/2011 06:00 AM EDT
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Veterans Health Administration Update
VISN 01 - Providence VA Medical Center - News & Announcements
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U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today (July 15) announced that Rhode Island will receive $114,275 in federal funding to provide housing assistance to homeless Veterans.

This funding, administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH) will provide rental housing vouchers to help 15 local Veterans and their families secure stable housing.

"This critical funding will help Veterans and their families put a roof over thier heads and get access to the care they need.  Our Veterans have sacrificed greatly to serve our country, and we need to make sure they have access to the benefits and support they earned," said Reed, who serves on the Appropriations Committtee.

To see Senator Reed's entire press release, visit Reed

The HUD-VASH program combines rental assistance for homeless Veterans with case management and supportive services provided by the VA at the Providence VA Medical Center.  Currently, at the Providence VAMC, 160 HUD-VASH vouchers are in use, providing Veterans with stable housing. 

The Providence VAMC also provides transitional housing and case management for homeless Veterans through its Grant & Per Diem Program, in which the VA pays non-profit organizations a per diem rate to provide supportive housing and services.  Veterans can stay up to two years in these community-based programs while they address problems and issues that led up to becoming homeless and to prepare for independent living.

The Providence VAMC remains on the forefront of providing comprehensive care and wrap-around services to homeless Veterans, beginning with an aggressive homeless outreach program that's helping homeless Veterans "break contact" with the streets--to date:

  • ~350 Veterans go thru our program each year, and the total served since 2005 (program inception) is approaching 1,200 Veterans
  • Veterans enrolled in our program have experienced continued improvements in chronic disease management with 70% of these Veterans achieving/retaining stable housing at 6 months while at the same time reducing emergency department visits by 50% and hospital admissions by 40%.

For more information about the Providence VAMC, please visit www.providence.va.gov

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