Senator Murray Announces Major Federal Investment in Housing Awards for Veterans across Washington State

Awards come as part of the HUD-VASH program that Senator Murray helped restart in 2008

More than $2.3 million in funding will go to help veterans who are experiencing homelessness secure permanent housing, connect with VA case managers 

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Senator Murray: “As a nation we have a responsibility to take care of our veterans, and I’m glad these critical investments will help ensure no Washingtonian who has sacrificed for our country ends up on the street”

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee, announced more than $2.3 million in funding for housing for Washington state veterans through the HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program, better known as HUD-VASH. The federal program helps veterans across the country by providing housing vouchers that combine rental assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Since 2008, when Senator Murray helped restart HUD-VASH, the program has helped more than 130,000 homeless veterans secure supportive housing.

“As a nation we have a responsibility to take care of our veterans, and I’m glad these critical investments will help ensure no Washingtonian who has sacrificed for our country ends up on the street,” Senator Murray said. “I have long fought to defend and strengthen the HUD-VASH program because I’ve seen how guaranteeing veterans have access to safe, supportive housing can change their lives and provide vital stability to those most vulnerable to homelessness. And as a voice for Washington state, as well as servicemembers and veterans across the nation, I’ll keep fighting for our veterans to give them the helping hand and resources they need to get back on their feet and not just live, but thrive.”

Senator Murray has long been focused on finding legislative solutions to end homelessness among military veterans, which has gotten worse in recent years. According to a report from the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, there are currently more than 40,000 veterans experiencing homelessness in the U.S., and the number of homeless veterans has increased from 2016, the first such increase since 2010. In Washington state, the number of veterans experiencing homelessness increased 41 percent between 2016 and 2017. Since resurrecting the HUD-VASH program in 2008, Senator Murray has led the charge against efforts by the Trump administration to eliminate funding for the vital program.

See a full breakdown of federal awards going to Washington state housing authorities below:

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