The state’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will spend $6 million in affordable housing resources to build 44 new units of housing for homeless veterans in three communities.
"The men and women who have served our country in the military have earned our help in getting them back on their feet," Governor Deval Patrick said in a statement. "These resources will provide affordable housing opportunities for our veterans who have sacrificed so much for our Commonwealth and our nation."
The announcement took place at the North Bellingham Veterans project in Chelsea, which will create 10 new units of housing for homeless veterans with funding received today. Also receiving funding today are Montello Welcome Home veterans project in Brockton, which will create 22 units of housing, and the East Howard Street veterans project in Quincy, which will create 12 units of housing.
"No one who has ever worn a uniform in service to this country should lack adequate shelter or a roof over their head," Secretary of Veterans’ Services Coleman Nee said in a statement. "The 44 units of new housing will build upon this commitment and continue the Commonwealth on a path to be the first state in the nation to end veteran’s homelessness."
Today’s announcement comes during a week dedicated to preventing and reducing the number of homeless veterans in the Commonwealth. Throughout the week, DHCD and the Office of Veterans’ Affairs will showcase the progress being made to end homelessness among veterans in the state.
This is just the latest effort of the Administration to support the Commonwealth’s veterans. In July, DHCD announced $3.3 million in affordable housing resources to build 35 new units of housing for homeless veterans in Shrewsbury.
The Patrick Administration’s Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness, chaired by Housing and Community Development Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein, recently released a comprehensive plan to end homelessness among the Commonwealth’s veteran community. The plan has a goal of reducing the number of homeless veterans by 1,000 by 2015, which will virtually eliminate homelessness among this population.
