WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger and John Sarbanes today announced the award of $748,976 for Baltimore’s Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program. The HUD-VASH program combines rental assistance for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Baltimore City will receive $285,978 and Baltimore County will receive $96,684 for direct rental assistance. Baltimore City has also been awarded $366,314 through the Administrative Fee Set-aside account for special fees, which allocates funding to local PHAs that need additional resources to implement the program. In total, these grants will provide services for 45 Maryland Veterans.

“Men and women who have faithfully served our country should never struggle to put a roof over their heads,” said the lawmakers. “These federal funds represent our commitment to making veteran homelessness a thing of the past in Baltimore and across our state.” 

This funding is provided through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2019 as authorized by section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937. The Housing Choice Voucher Program is the federal government’s major program to help people afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Participants are able to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program, including single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments. Additional information on the HUD-VASH program specifically may be found through the agency here.

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