Columbia Housing Authority awarded $6,300 from federal government to combat veteran homelessness

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced in a Thursday press release that it is awarding an additional $20 million to help combat veteran homelessness across 43 states.

HUD is awarding $197,618 to Missouri from the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program. The funding is broken down between eight areas across the Show-Me State:

• St. Louis Housing Authority - $97,372
• St. Joseph Housing Authority - $11,174
• Housing Authority of St. Louis County - $46,292
• Boone County Public Housing Authority - $6,385
• Lincoln County Public Housing Authority - $9,258
• Ripley County Public Housing Agency - $15,963
• Jasper County Public Housing Agency - $6,385
• St. Charles County Housing Assistance Program - $4,789

The Columbia Housing Authority clarified it will receive the money designated for Boone County.

"This is good news for CHA, the VA, and our community partners to increase housing and services for Boone County Veteran households," CEO of Columbia Housing Authority Randy Cole said. "The additional award is to assist with staffing needs to administer vouchers and to work in partnership with the VA to identify housing, attract additional landlord participation, and ultimately increase the number of Veterans housed in Columbia."

Cole said the board and staff have put in a significant level of work to increase its occupancy and voucher utilization across all programs this past year.

"We are nearly fully utilized," Cole said. "We are currently in communication with the VA to also explore expand the number of housing vouchers for Veterans in Boone County."

As of July 17, the Boone County Coalition to End Homelessness said there are 55 homeless veterans in the county. This is an increase of three veterans from its count on July 8.

Cole said he expects to have the money in hand from the award within the next two months.

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