SPHA Partners with Bay Pines VAMC to Provide Housing for Homeless Veterans

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA – According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Web site, approximately 30 percent of the current adult homeless population in the United States has served in the Armed Forces. On this Veteran’s Day, the St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) honors all veterans and is working to help homeless veterans in St. Petersburg find housing.

As part of the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD‐VASH) program, SPHA was awarded seventy (70) vouchers to provide rental assistance for qualifying homeless veterans, in partnership with eligible VA medical facilities. The HUD-VASH program provides participants with rental assistance while they receive the services and resources they need to move towards independence and self‐sufficiency.

“We are looking for a holistic approach to helping homeless veterans,” said SPHA Chief Executive Officer Darrell Irions. “We feel that it is critical to offer not only housing, but the services and treatment that these veterans deserve and need to regain their lives.”

Nationally, the HUD-VASH vouchers have been allocated to local public housing agencies across the country based on a variety of factors, including the number of reported homeless veterans and the proximity of a local Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) with the capacity to provide case management.

Locally, SPHA is working in partnership with Bay Pines VAMC, who will refer qualifying veterans to the housing authority. To be eligible for the program, veterans are required to participate in case management services with the Bay Pines VAMC. SPHA also will determine income eligibility in accordance with HUD regulations for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program.

The vouchers allow participating veterans to rent private sector housing in St. Petersburg, contingent on their motivation to continue treatment and improve their individual circumstances.

To learn more about the program, please contact the St. Petersburg Housing Authority at (727) 323-3171 or email info@stpeteha.org.

About St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA):

The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) is a public body corporate that has a 70‐year history of developing and administering affordable housing programs in the city of St. Petersburg. Consistently scored as a “High Performer” on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) assessments, SPHA provides housing assistance to more than 3,400 families residing in St. Petersburg. The authority has received national awards and recognition for its innovative programs, including the Economies of Scale program, the Jordan Park HOPE VI redevelopment program, the
Section 3 program and the Fraud Recovery program. More information about the authority’s programs and services can be found at www.stpeteha.org.