Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced six grants totaling $582,771 in federal funding for Western New York. The funding was allocated through two U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development programs. $189,204 was allocated though the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program and $393,567 was allocated through the Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) program. The funding will be used to carryout services and provide housing vouchers for citizens in need.
“One homeless veteran is one too many, and we must do everything to help provide our heroes with a comfortable place to live,” said Senator Schumer. “This federal funding will help homeless veterans and their families find affordable housing in Buffalo’s and Western New York’s housing market, as well as help them find meaningful employment. Our veterans willingly risked life and limb for our country, and this investment will provide them with the services they need to build a life here in Upstate New York.”
“Every veteran in Western New York deserves to have a safe quality place to live,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This funding will help our veterans and homeless families get the resources and assistance they need so they can have a safe place to call home and are able to gain additional skills so they can find good-paying jobs. This kind of investment will help keep more New Yorkers and their families off the streets.”
“The Town of Amherst is extremely grateful to Senators Gillibrand & Schumer for their assistance in securing these grants for the Town of Amherst,” said Guy Marlette, Deputy Supervisor of Amherst. “The HUD VASH grant, or Veterans Affordable & Sustainable Housing, will provide for rental assistance for 44 units of housing for homeless Veterans who sacrificed so much for our community and country. The Family Self Sufficiency Grant will assist Belmont Housing and the Town of Amherst to provide the necessary support positions for individuals and families to gain the skills and training necessary to help them become self-sufficient. Both will provide the tools necessary for individuals to succeed in today’s challenging economic times.”
“I am so pleased to hear that the Lockport Housing Authority has received $67,433 for a Families Self Sufficiency grant from HUD,” said Lockport Mayor Anne McCaffrey. “I know of the impact that this grant has had on the participants in the program. 108 people are benefitting from the self-sufficiency grant and in the past 18 months 43 people have obtained employment. We appreciate the partnership with HUD to help families living in Lockport Housing Authority units to achieve self-sufficiency.”
Recipients of the funding include the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority, receiving $34,212; the City of North Tonawanda, Belmont Housing Resources, receiving $48,178; the Erie County Public Housing Agency Consortium, Town of Amherst Belmont Housing, receiving $145,870; the Lockport Housing Authority receiving, $67,433; the Rental Assistance Corporation of Buffalo, receiving $97,874; and the Town of Amherst, receiving $189,204.
HUD’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program provides housing vouchers and a range of support services for homeless veterans and their families. HUD’s Family Self Sufficiency program assists local social services agencies, community colleges, businesses and other local organizations in providing education and job training in order to help those participating in HUD’s housing voucher program and living in public housing gain marketable jobs skills. This program will help those utilizing housing assistance programs gain the education and skills needed to find and retain good jobs and become self-sufficient.