U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs will provide $443,453 to house and support homeless veterans in Illinois.
“Last night, in Illinois alone, more than 1,200 homeless veterans were on the street," Durbin said. "This country can do better - and must do better - for the brave men and women who have sacrificed for our nation honorably. We should continue to honor and recognize their service not just on Veterans Day, but every day, by upholding the promises we have made to them. This funding is a reflection of that promise we made to the men and women who serve this country to provide them with the housing and the health services assistance they earned during their service."
Approximately 65 percent of the funds will go to the Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC), which serves Chicago. Approximately $149,000 will go to the Housing Authority of Joliet (HAJ). Both organizations were selected for agreeing to partner with VA eligible medical facilities like the Hines VA Hospital. HACC will also partner with Freedom's Path housing; HCJ will partner with Hope Manor Apartments.
Veterans can access the funds by getting rental assistance vouchers from these agencies and applying it to affordable housing of their choice.
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