The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced $10 million in federal funding to help house more than 600 Native American veterans nationwide, and a senior HUD official came to Arizona to share the news on Monday.
Richard Monocchio is principal deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Public and Indian Housing. He met with officials from six tribal housing authorities in Arizona and New Mexico to disburse more than $2.1 million to aid 115 veterans.
The Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, San Carlos and White Mountain Apache tribes in Arizona and Zuni Pueblo of New Mexico were among the 29 grantees across Indian Country.
“Everybody was happy,” Monocchio said. “This is a rental subsidy that is provided to veterans who are either unhoused or at risk of being unhoused.”
These vouchers are made available through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing, or HUD-VASH. This program offers a holistic approach, from clinical and behavioral health services to occupational training for Indigenous veterans.
“We heard how hard the housing entities are working to not only make sure that the housing is available, but to make sure that the veterans are recruited,” added Monocchio. “This administration is committed to adding between 2 and 3 million homes and apartments, and that’s going to go a long way to bring housing costs down and meet the needs of our people.”
Nearly a fifth of all veterans who benefit from these awards reside in Arizona.
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