Veterans

Housing veterans has become SPHA’s Standard Operating Procedure. Here are some of the ways that we are helping our military veterans find and sustain affordable housing:

Project-Based Vouchers for Veterans

Through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funded Project-Based Voucher program, SPHA awarded 23 vouchers to Boley Centers, Inc. and Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg, Inc. to help house local military veterans. While similar in benefits to the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, commonly called Section 8, the vouchers granted to Boley Centers and Catholic Charities are tied to specific housing units at their properties and must be used to make rent affordable for veterans.

• Boley Centers, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit organization serving individuals with mental disabilities, individuals and families who are homeless, Veterans, and youth in Pinellas, Manatee, Pasco, and Sarasota Counties. www.boleycenters.org
• Catholic Charities provides strategic alliances, advocacy, and a broad array of social services designed to support and preserve families and promote self-sufficiency. The agency serves all residents of Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties regardless of race, creed, gender, national origin, handicapping condition, or socioeconomic status. www.ccdosp.org

HUD-VASH Vouchers for Homeless Veterans

Another federal program, known as HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH), is offering even more rental options to local homeless veterans. With a HUD-VASH voucher issued by SPHA, homeless veterans are able to rent private sector housing in St. Petersburg, contingent on their motivation to continue treatment and improve their individual circumstances. Since 2009, HUD has awarded a total of 375 HUD-VASH vouchers to SPHA, in addition to the regular vouchers allotted to the housing authority’s HCV / Section 8 program.

CLICK HERE to learn more about HUD-VASH Vouchers. >