North Prov Housing Awarded $248K By HUD to Support Homeless Veterans

North Prov Housing Awarded $248K By HUD to Support Homeless Veterans

Marilee Arsenault, Executive Director for the North Providence Housing Authority (NPHA), announced Friday, that the agency has been awarded $248,877.00 in by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in support of the VASH (Veterans Assisted Supportive Housing) Program.

“This program focuses its efforts on helping to secure affordable housing for our homeless veterans through the voucher program,” said Arsenault.

According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, 13% of the homeless adult population are veterans. 

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In 2023, the VA reported that 35,574 veterans experienced homelessness on any given night in January 2023. This was a 7.4% increase from 2022. There is no specific number available for the number of homeless veterans in Rhode Island.

NPHA works in conjunction with the Providence VA Medical Center to focus its efforts on homeless veterans.

The VA Medical Center will identify a homeless veteran and make the referral to the housing authority as part of this initiative.

Arsenault said, “The North Providence Housing Authority employs a VASH Coordinator whose sole focus is to assist our veterans. This ensures that phone calls, emails, etc. are managed timely and ultimately resulting in a successful lease up of the veteran. “

The announcement comes a day after the McKee’s administration said that there would be no prioritization for veterans at the pallet home facility scheduled to open in Providence this spring.