December 23, 2021
50 New Vouchers Awarded to the San Diego Housing Commission to Help Pay Rent for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness
Participating veterans also receive supportive services from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs San Diego Healthcare System
SAN DIEGO, CA — The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) has been awarded 50 additional Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers to help pay rent for veterans experiencing homelessness in the City of San Diego, who will also receive supportive services from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
“More VASH vouchers mean more opportunities to help veterans move from the streets or shelters into permanent rental homes of their own with the supportive services they need,” SDHC President & CEO Richard C. Gentry said. “The San Diego Housing Commission looks forward to continuing to collaborate with the VA San Diego Healthcare System to have a positive impact on the lives of those who served our country but are struggling to get by today.”
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded the 50 new VASH vouchers to SDHC. The estimated annual value of the new vouchers is $623,982.
Including the new vouchers, HUD has awarded 1,285 VASH vouchers to SDHC since 2008.
SDHC helps VASH participants pay their rent. Households pay a predetermined portion of their income toward their rent, and SDHC pays the balance of the rent, up to the applicable “payment standard” directly to the landlord. The “payment standard” is the maximum subsidy payment that the voucher would pay for an apartment or rental house minus the portion of the contract rent that the tenant pays. The payment standard is based on the number of bedrooms approved for the family’s size and the community to which the family moves.
The VA San Diego Healthcare System provides clinical health and case management services to VASH participants.
VASH vouchers are among the diverse resources SDHC uses to create housing solutions through its homelessness action plan, HOUSING FIRST – SAN DIEGO. Since it launched November 12, 2014, HOUSING FIRST – SAN DIEGO has created more than 9,800 housing solutions for individuals and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness in the City of San Diego. HOUSING FIRST – SAN DIEGO programs provide a continuum of housing solutions to address different needs, including homelessness prevention and diversion, rapid rehousing, landlord engagement and assistance, and permanent supportive housing.
Finishing the job of ending veteran homelessness is one of the three “goals within reach” identified by the Community Action Plan on Homelessness for the City of San Diego, which the San Diego City Council accepted October 14, 2019.
According to data from the San Diego Continuum of Care Homeless Management Information System, managed by the Regional Task Force on Homelessness, shelters funded by the City of San Diego and/or SDHC served 307 veterans experiencing homelessness from January 1, 2021, through October 31, 2021, of which 73 were active in shelters on October 31, 2021. Street outreach served 89 veterans experiencing homelessness during the same time period, of which 32 were still active on October 31, 2021.
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Media Contact:
Scott Marshall, Vice President of Communications
San Diego Housing Commission
619-578-7138
