The City of Madison’s Community Development Authority will receive new funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help homeless veterans find stable housing.
HUD is awarding the CDA funding for five additional housing vouchers through the HUD-VASH (Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) program. HUD-VASH provides supportive services, including access to health care, mental health services, substance use treatment and employment assistance through the VA Medical Center.
“Madison was chosen for the additional voucher funding in part because of the great success we have had in connecting veterans to stable housing through the HUD-VASH program,” Chad Ruppel, CDA housing director, said in a statement. “Our program wouldn’t be this successful without the supportive services provided by our partners at Madison’s VA Medical Center. Those services combined with stable housing make every additional voucher we can provide a life-changing opportunity for a local veteran and their family and plays a part in addressing the overall issue of homelessness in Madison.”
CDA first joined the HUD-VASH program in 2009, when it received funding for 35 vouchers. With the most recent award, the CDA will now be administering a total of 219 HUD-VASH vouchers to veterans in the community. The CDA is entirely funded through HUD.
“According to Coordinated Entry data from the Homeless Services Consortium of Dane County, an average of 30 veterans per month have been enrolled in emergency shelter and street outreach programs over the past calendar year, including 35 in the last month,” the statement said.
Those who are interested in the program can call the VA at 608-256-1901 or the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans Hotline at 877-424-3838.
