Mohave County Awarded 13 More Veteran Housing Assistant Vouchers

Lake Havasu City, AZ – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that Mohave County will receive 13 additional vouchers for housing assistance for veterans in Mohave County under the Veteran Assistance Supportive Housing (VASH) Program.  According to Supervisor Buster Johnson, the 13 additional vouchers will provide Mohave County with $73,339 to help veterans find and keep safe and secure housing.  “These vouchers will help provide a better quality of life for our veterans who have sacrificed so much for this country,” Johnson stated.

According to Mohave County Community Services Director Susie Parel-Duranceau, the 13 additional vouchers will bring the total vouchers available to Veterans in Mohave County to 63.  In order for veterans to qualify, they must be VA health care eligible and must meet the definition of homelessness.  Qualified veterans must also need case management services in order to obtain and sustain independent community housing.  “The VA will qualify the veteran and then refer them to Mohave County,” Duranceau explained.  Through the VASH program, the veterans will generally contribute no more than 30% of their income towards the rental of privately owned housing with Mohave County paying the remainder.

Mohave County and Cochise County were the only 2 counties in Arizona to receive the additional vouchers.  According to the Northern Arizona Veterans Resource Center, homeless veterans make up 32% of Mohave County’s homeless population.  “After their service and sacrifice, too many of our veterans find themselves living on our streets.  Through this program, we are able to help these veterans in their time of need,” Johnson ended.

For more information on the VASH program, please visit: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/hcv/vash