The rent for more than two dozen homeless veterans who find housing in Jersey City will be covered under a program aimed at ending homelessness among people who have served in the military.
The federal government has allocated $220,904 to help pay rent for 25 homeless veterans in Jersey City under a joint supported housing program run by the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs and Veterans Affairs, officials said.
Under the voucher program, HUD funds are funneled through the state to the veterans who use welfare services provided at the V.A. Lyons Campus outreach office on 115 Christopher Columbus Blvd. in Jersey City.
Veterans can choose their own home in Jersey City and the money is paid to the landlord to cover the rent, officials said.
The Department of Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System then handles the veterans' support services, including health care, job training, disability claims and other benefits. Jersey City is one of eight cities in New Jersey to share $1.8 million allocated by program.
Sue Hopkins, spokeswoman with the Department of Veterans Affairs, said the aim of the program is to eliminate homelessness among veterans nationwide by 2015.
"There is still much more work to do, but this federal funding will help in the fight to end homelessness among America's veterans, including about 7,000 veterans in New Jersey," said Rep. Steve Rothman, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, in a statement.
Hopkins said that the money was allocated to Jersey City because HUD and the V.A. had identified a need for assistance for homeless veterans in the city area.
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