Good news for homeless veterans in Oregon [Portland Metro, Lane, Deschutes, Jackson counties]

More veterans in five Oregon counties will have a roof over their heads, thanks to a recent award of 185 HUD housing vouchers. The 2012 appropriations bill provided the funds to support these additional vouchers, which can be used by residents of Portland, Clackamas County, Eugene, Medford and Bend.

While this is a small amount of help in the scheme of things, the movement is going in the right direction. “It’s a national disgrace that one out of every six men and women in our shelters [nationally] once wore a uniform to serve our country,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. “But we know that by providing housing assistance and case management services, we can significantly reduce the number of veterans living on our streets. Working together, HUD, VA and local housing agencies are making real progress toward ending veteran homelessness once and for all."

The awards were distributed to housing authorities throughout the state. Veterans experiencing homelessness will need to apply for the vouchers through a VA case manager. Veterans who do not have a case manager may ask for assistance from the veterans outreach coordinator in their geographical area.

Contact the veterans facility nearest you for more information:

• Portland/Clackamas County - Portland Veterans Administration Medical Center/East, Portland Community-Based Outpatient Clinic/West, Linn Community-Based Outpatient Clinic
• Portland - Portland Veterans Administration Medical Center
• Eugene - Roseburg Veterans Administration Medical Center, Eugene Community-Based Outpatient Clinic
• Medford – Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center and Clinic
• Bend – Portland Veterans Administration Medical Center, Bend Community-Based Outpatient Clinic

The process of getting connected may seem daunting, especially for people who struggle with the basics of getting by every day. If you have questions about getting started on the process of accessing a rental voucher, call 211 and a specialist will be able to give you specific addresses and phone numbers for veterans’ services.