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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Mayor announces 'Housing First' funding for Homeless Veterans
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
9/21/2006 12:00:00 AM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alex Fryer (206) 684-8358
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Mayor announces “Housing First” funding for Homeless Veterans
$3 million increases Seattle’s financial commitment
to ending homelessness
SEATTLE - Today Mayor Greg Nickels announced he’s included $3 million
in his proposed 2007-2008 budget to create a comprehensive housing and services
program - Housing First - for homeless veterans. The money would build on more
than $38 million the Seattle committed in 2005 to help end homelessness.
“Many vets leave the service and resume their lives. But some return
to fight a different kind of battle - with drugs, alcohol or mental illness,” said
Mayor Nickels. “Simply put, veterans who fought our battles abroad shouldn’t
be sleeping on our streets at home.”
Nationally, an estimated 25 to 30 percent of chronically homeless people are
veterans.
“In addition to veterans from Vietnam and the Gulf War, we are beginning
to see the next wave of homeless veterans, both men and women, among those
who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Human Services Director
Patricia McInturff. “Many of these veterans, as with veterans of other
wars, need treatment for post traumatic stress disorder and employment training
to help them get back on their feet.”
Sheila Sebron spent eight years in the U.S. Air Force and was medically discharged.
She spent 20 years struggling to recover from “line of duty” injuries
that left her disabled. Her severe disabilities and lack of adequate support
left her and her two children homeless.
“As a nation at war, we must plan for the recovery of our returning
soldiers,” Sebron said. “As a disabled veteran, I know that having
housing with supportive services, especially when administered by fellow veterans
who understand the potentially crippling effects of PTSD, is critical for our
successful reintegration into communities.”
The mayor today also challenged suburban cities in King County to increase
the amount of money they spend on ending homelessness. He noted that Seattle
spends about $42 per capita annually on homeless and affordable housing programs.
In comparison, Bellevue contributes approximately $11 per capita; Kirkland
$4.32; and Redmond $3.33.
“Homelessness is not a Seattle problem - it is shared by every community
regardless of size,” Nickels said. “We need more than encouragement
from suburban cities - we need allies willing to provide the resources necessary
to end homelessness in our communities.”
The $3 million the mayor proposed today will initially provide rent subsidies
for both men and women who have served in the military while permanent housing
is being built. It would also fund intensive services, such as mental health
or chemical dependency counseling and treatment, job training, and other necessary
services to bring veterans in need to a place of self-sufficiency.
This spring, the city will start the process of building permanent housing
with supportive services specifically for homeless veterans. Seattle will work
to combine city funding with other sources, including the state and county.
After receiving intensive services and the support they need, the veterans
will transition, where possible, out of the housing and services to independent
living to make room for other veterans.
“We estimate that we will initially assist 30 to 40 veterans,” said
Office of Housing Director Adrienne Quinn. “It is important to remember
that because we will be focusing on chronically homeless individuals, we anticipate
that their needs will be significant. In the long run, though, this type of
investment is more humane and more cost effective than paying for these same
individuals to cycle in and out of Harborview, the sobering center or jail.”
Nickels made his funding announcement this morning in the Garden of Remembrance,
a half-acre garden honoring Washington’s wartime dead, located at Benaroya
Hall.
Get the mayor’s inside view on initiatives to promote transportation,
public safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for
The Nickels Newsletter at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm.
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Office of the Mayor
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