New York, N.Y. – U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio today announced $265,536 in federal funding for New York City. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program to provide homeless veterans access to affordable housing. Specifically, the New York City Housing Preservation Department will use the federal funds to reserve a total of 24 apartments at three new building complexes for homeless veterans. APEX located on Fulton Avenue in the Bronx will be building a six-story, 25,000 square foot, 24-unit affordable housing building containing eight studios for veterans. Edwin’s Place located on Livonia Avenue in Brooklyn will be building an eight-story, 111,180 square foot building containing 122 supportive and affordable units reserving eight studios for veterans. SoBRO located on 166th Street Terraces in the Bronx will be building a nine-story, 51,813 square foot, 41-unit low-income residential building including four studio units and four one-bedroom units for veterans.
“Our veterans put it all on the line for our country and we should be doing everything possible to make sure they get the assistance they need to live independent and successful lives,” said U.S. Senator Schumer. “I am very pleased to announce this federal funding, which will help provide affordable housing options to 24 homeless veterans in New York City and ensure they have a place to call home.”
“These federal funds will help provide veterans access to safe and affordable housing,” said Senator Gillibrand. “No man or woman who has served in our military should be homeless here in New York. These federal funds will help our veterans and their families get the resources and assistance they need so they can have a safe place to call home.”
“This award means 24 homeless veterans will soon be in secure, permanent housing. We are grateful to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, and all our federal partners, as we work together to house men and women in need who volunteered to protect our nation,” said NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio.
“Ensuring that the brave women and men who valiantly protected our nation have a safe and secure place to call home is a key priority of Housing New York. The availability of VASH vouchers for these quality projects in the Morrisania neighborhood of the Bronx and Brownsville, Brooklyn will make it possible to reach 24 veterans struggling to find a stable place to call home. I want to thank HUD, and especially Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for championing VASH and other HUD programs that are so critical to housing our most vulnerable New Yorkers,” said HPD Commissioner Vicki Been.
The Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program provides housing vouchers and a range of support services for homeless veterans and their families. HUD’s Family Self Sufficiency program assists local social services agencies, community colleges, businesses and other local organizations in providing education and job training in order to help those participating in HUD’s housing voucher program and living in public housing gain marketable jobs skills. This program will help those utilizing housing assistance programs gain the education and skills needed to find and retain good jobs and become self-sufficient.