Posted on March 24, 2014
(Note: At the request of the Boston Housing Authority, we are posting this news release so that our affordable rental housing developers know about this new program designed to better connect homeless military veterans with housing and supportive services).
BOSTON, March 24, 2014 --- In its continuing effort to provide housing assistance and supportive services to homeless military veterans, the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) is announcing a new pilot program that is designed to streamline the process of identifying and certifying suitable homes so that homeless veterans can be housed more quickly.
The new program will work in conjunction with a special federal program known as HUD VASH, which provides housing assistance and supportive services to military veterans. The BHA has administered this program for the last five years in partnership with the Boston Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC) in Jamaica Plain. The program has proven effective in housing military veterans and keeping them housed.
The BHA’s pilot program – called the Pre-Lease Pilot Program – is designed for landlords who are familiar with Section 8 voucher programs. It encourages landlords who have vacant apartments and who are interested in housing military veterans to contact the BHA about getting their units pre-approved as housing for homeless veterans. If approved, these vacant homes would then become eligible housing for veterans using the HUD VASH program.
Previously, the process of identifying suitable housing for veterans using HUD VASH could only be initiated by a military veteran with a Section 8 voucher. The voucher holder would find a home and then submit a request to the BHA to have the home approved under the Section 8 program. This process includes unit inspection, rent review, unit approval and lease signing.
“The old process can appear and at times has been cumbersome for veterans and landlords alike,” said Thomas Ryan, the BHA’s director of development and grant programs. “This pilot program is aimed at identifying and building a list of suitable homes so that veterans can be housed more quickly after they have received their Section 8 voucher.”
Any landlord in Massachusetts with a vacant unit can pursue eligibility. The BHA currently administers housing vouchers in 180 communities. Please note that the BHA cannot inspect occupied units. The units must be ready for inspection.
Landlords with vacant units who interested in participating in the BHA Pre-Lease Pilot Program should contact the BHA’s Shara Bubb at 617-988-4401 or shara.bubb@bostonhousing.org.