The Los Angeles County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs celebrates an announcement Thursday by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announcing a new set of policy changes for which MVA and others had been advocating.
Veterans experiencing homelessness will no longer be disqualified based on their service- connected disability benefits from supportive housing projects subsidized by project-based rental assistance through the HUD-Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.
Prior to this adjustment, these benefits were considered income when determining eligibility for housing assistance, causing some veterans to exceed the income threshold for these programs. Henceforth, veterans will not be denied admission to supportive housing subsidized by HUD-VASH due to their service-connected disability benefits.
Additionally, HUD announced today they have awarded $20 million to public housing agencies to continue to improve the HUD-VASH program.
“No veteran should have to choose between housing assistance and the benefits they’ve earned,” said MVA Director Jim Zenner. “This critical change in policy removes a major obstacle between the two. HUD and the VA should be commended for bringing us one step closer to ending veteran homelessness.”
According to HUD, they are expanding access to HUD-VASH for veterans by:
– “Requiring public housing agencies (PHAs) that administer HUD-VASH to set the initial income eligibility for veterans at 80% of Area Median Income, rather than 50% of Area Median Income. The use of this higher initial income eligibility threshold is currently optional, but HUD is now making this increase mandatory
– “Adopting an alternative definition of annual income for applicants and participants of the HUD-VASH program that excludes veterans’ service-connected disability benefits when determining eligibility”
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose Fifth District includes the Santa Clarita Valley, issued the following statement Thursday in response to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development change in policy.
The full statement below:
“This is an overdue and much welcomed policy change. Raising the income eligibility threshold and excluding service-connected disability benefits is undoubtedly a good move that’ll have a big ripple effect in Los Angeles County.
Locally, our efforts to house some of our most vulnerable veterans will be dramatically improved because more veterans will qualify. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the Los Angeles County Development Authority, and our federal Veterans Affairs partners are expected to immediately implement this change so that we can move more veterans from our streets and into homes.
Each brave man and woman who has served this country deserves to draw down every bit of support they’ve earned with a lot of sacrifice. Morally, this federal policy change was the right call.”
Los Angeles County's Community Development Commission/Housing Authority will receive 600 of the 5,211 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers available nationwide for Federal Fiscal Year 2017.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded the Los Angeles County Development Authority $6,418,080 to fund 500 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers to help homeless veterans or veterans at risk of experiencing homelessness.
The Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles has been awarded $781,492, the largest such funding award in the country, in extraordinary administration fees to support its Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program. The award comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a result of…
Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
The Santa Clarita Valley Family History & Genealogy Fair, an annual free genealogy fair hosted by the Valencia FamilySearch Center, will be held on Saturday, April 26, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
California State Park enthusiasts from across the state have nominated their favorite state parks, and now it’s time to decide. State Parks has gathered the top nominations, and now it is time for you to determine the Best of California’s State Parks.
Explore the world by traveling to the Canyon Country Community Center for the Celebrate event series. Experience different customs and cultures, no plane ticket needed.
The Santa Clarita Arts Commission will hold its regular meeting Thursday, April 10, at 6 p.m., in Council Chambers at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd., 1st Floor, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
The Santa Clarita Valley Family History & Genealogy Fair, an annual free genealogy fair hosted by the Valencia FamilySearch Center, will be held on Saturday, April 26, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
The Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector reminds Santa Clarita Valley residents that the second installment of the 2024-25 Annual Secured Property Taxes becomes delinquent if not paid by Thursday, April 10.
The 52nd Annual Frontier Toyota Henry Mayo Golf Classic will host a $20 per ball Helicopter Golf Ball Drop at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 at Valencia Country Club.
California State Park enthusiasts from across the state have nominated their favorite state parks, and now it’s time to decide. State Parks has gathered the top nominations, and now it is time for you to determine the Best of California’s State Parks.
Residents wanting to wear their Santa Clarita pride can now shop online at the city of Santa Clarita City Store. The store offers a variety of city-branded merchandise options, including t-shirts, hoodies, hats, totes and more.
Explore the world by traveling to the Canyon Country Community Center for the Celebrate event series. Experience different customs and cultures, no plane ticket needed.
After three successful years guiding the Teton Ranch Conservancy, Executive Director Jaron Cramer will be stepping down from his position effective Friday, April 18.
The Santa Clarita City Council will meet in open session on Tuesday, April 8 at City Hall to consider sending a letter, signed by all city council members, to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors regarding Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy vacancies and encouraging the board to make investments in enhancing LASD retention and strengthening recruitment efforts.
California State University, Northridge’s Department of Theatre will host Native Voices, the only professional theatre company in the United States devoted to bringing Indigenous playwrights, 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, to perform “To Indigeneity and Beyond!”
The William S. Hart Union High School District has announced that Anthony Eslao, a senior at Golden Valley High School, has been awarded the distinguished California Scholarship Federation Seymour Award. Additionally, Matthew Thomas De Guzman, also from Golden Valley, has been recognized as a Seymour Award finalist.
Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo’s bill, D-Chatsworth, the Expediting State Housing Permits Act (AB 301) was passed as part of a major package of housing legislation aimed at tackling the state’s housing crisis.
The Department of Water Resources conducted the all-important April snow survey on Wednesday, April 2, the fourth measurement of the season at Phillips Station.
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites you to an elegant evening of wine, dinner and song atthe annual Cabaret & Cabernet benefit “The Beat Goes On,” on Saturday, April 26, 5 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Valencia.
For the third year in a row, The Master's University's basketball player Kaleb Lowery has been named an NAIA All-American, this time on the First Team.
Lief Labs, a premier formulation and product development innovator and manufacturer of dietary supplements, has announced the launch of its 2025 Brand Boost Guide which offers tips, guidance and resources to support dietary supplement brands in identifying potential sales growth and risk management strategies.
The Master's University men's volleyball team completed the sweep of its old rival with a 25-11, 25-21, 25-19 controlling of the Arizona Christian Firestorm Saturday afternoon, March 29 in Glendale, Arizona.
Arbor Day is more than just a celebration, it’s a commitment to our future. Every year, communities across the world come together to plant trees, promote environmental stewardship and enhance the landscapes that make our cities and towns more beautiful and livable.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
0 Comments
You can be the first one to leave a comment.