The Phoenix City Council approved on Wednesday the city’s participation in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program in partnership with the Phoenix Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center. The program will give the city 105 Housing Choice Vouchers to provide housing to homeless veterans.

“Phoenix residents will benefit from the city’s participation in the VASH program, which will provide much needed housing and case management assistance to homeless veterans who have served this country with honor and dignity,” said Mayor Phil Gordon. “We support our troops and now will be able to provide additional support to our veterans.”

The VASH program, which will be facilitated by the city of Phoenix Housing Department, combines HUD housing choice voucher rental assistance for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the VA at its medical centers and alternate sites in the community.

“Providing housing options to those who have sacrificed and served our nation is the least we can do – no veteran should be living on the streets,” said Councilman Tom Simplot, who chairs the City Council Housing Subcommittee.

In December 2007, Congress approved the 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act to allocate $75 million dollars for the VASH program to provide vouchers and case management assistance for approximately 10,000 homeless veterans nationwide. The city of Phoenix along with more than 150 municipalities and healthcare agencies will receive homeless veteran case referrals from the VA.

For more information about this nationwide program, visit va.gov or call the city of Phoenix Housing Department at 602-534-1974.