Aguilar Announces Federal Funds to Combat Veteran Homelessness in San Bernardino County
Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar announced that the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino (HACSB) was awarded a $409,800 grant by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) through the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. With this additional grant funding, HACSB now has the ability to subsidize housing for 457 veterans.
“We cannot stand by while our veterans – the brave men and women who risked their lives to protect our sovereignty – are abandoned and left to live on the streets,” said Rep. Aguilar. He continued, “We have an obligation to help those who gave this country so much. I’m glad to see federal funds come back to the Inland Empire to help our veterans, and I will continue advocating on their behalf to ensure they have the resources they need and deserve to live healthy and productive lives.”
“The overwhelming response from our Congressional leaders like Representative Aguilar and County supervisors in adding resources to accomplish this mission is nothing short of amazing. We have gone from more than 2,600 vets on the streets in our county a few years ago to less than 140 now thanks to the laudable teamwork of many,” said Daniel Nackerman, HACSB’s Executive Director.
Rep. Aguilar has been a leader in the Inland Empire on combatting veteran homelessness and called on the House Appropriations Committee to allocate funding to the HUD-VASH program in both 2015 and 2016. Public letters detailing the requests can be read here and here. Last year, the HACSB was awarded $405,804 to support the housing vouchers for veterans, of which Rep. Aguilar advocated for strongly on the county’s behalf. Rep. Aguilar has also met with VA Secretary Robert McDonald and convened his Veterans Advisory Board last month to discuss methods for reducing veteran homelessness in the community.
Rep. Aguilar is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, where he serves on the Subcommittees on Strategic Forces and Emerging Threats and Capabilities.
