Riverside County to Receive Nearly $12 Million for Veterans Housing

Two Riverside County housing developments have been awarded approximately $12 million in grants to combat veteran homelessness. March Veterans Village at the March Air Reserve Base and Illinois Avenue Apartments in Beaumont will receive a total of $11.98 million through Proposition 41 and the Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Program (VHHP). Statewide, the program will award $62 million to benefit low-income and homeless veterans and their families, and nearly half of this funding will go to serving veterans in Inland Southern California. Senator Richard D. Roth said, “Riverside County’s veterans - too many of whom are low-income and homeless - as well as veterans statewide, will benefit greatly from these grants, and I am pleased the State has made this critical investment in their health and safety.” In 2013 Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Assembly Bill 639, which authorized $600 million in general obligation bonds to provide for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation and preservation of affordable multifamily permanent, transitional and supportive housing for low-income and homeless veterans. AB 639 set the stage for Proposition 41 to be placed before and approved by California voters in June 2014, providing funding for the program. The awards announced reccently represent the first round of funding through Proposition 41 and the VHHP and will be directed to 17 housing developments statewide. The majority of these developments have committed to providing intensive supportive services responsive to veterans' individual needs, such as case management, drug and alcohol counseling, health clinics, disability benefit advocacy, as well as family and childcare services. "With cities statewide pushing to meet the national goal of ending veterans' homelessness, this funding could not have come at a better time," said HUD Regional Administrator Ophelia Basgal. "These targeted investments will leverage HUD housing assistance and VA support services to end the homelessness of hundreds of veterans and their families." A second round of awards is expected to be available this fall, providing additional opportunities to apply for and receive funds for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable multifamily housing for California's veterans and their families. Sen. Roth continued, “This first round of funds is critical not only for the health and safety of veterans in Inland Southern California but for veterans statewide. I am proud to have co-authored AB 639 to authorize these funds, and will continue to advocate for policies that put our veterans on the path to achieving the American Dream that they fought to protect.” The two awards in Riverside County are as follows: Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Program Funding Awards , March Veterans Village, March JPA, 92518: $8,165,937. Sponsor: Coachella Valley Housing Coalition. Illinois Avenue Apartments, Beaumont, 92223: $3,812,676. Sponsor: LINC Community Development Corporation.