Solving Veteran Homelessness A Priority

Jun Yang
Executive Director
Offi ce of Housing

“Heroes Housing Heroes” is working to end veteran homelessness.

The City & County of Honolulu Mayor’s Office of Housing is approaching its goal to end veteran homelessness on Oahu by the end of 2015. Mayor Kirk Caldwell earlier this year accepted the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) national Mayors’ Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness, pledging to get every one of Oahu’s unsheltered veterans off the streets by the end of the year.

“Our goal is to connect Oahu’s remaining 55 unsheltered veterans to the appropriate services by the end of 2015,” said Office of Housing Executive Director Jun Yang. “We’re pleased with the successful placement of more than 200 previously homeless veterans so far and will continue our outreach efforts, working closely with the service providers to get the job done.”

To date this year, veterans who had been experiencing homelessness on Oahu have been placed in permanent or transitional housing, group homes, shelters, or have rejoined their families.

“We are encouraging partnerships with property owners and landlords with studios and oneand two-bedroom units for rent to step forward for our veterans in need. Rent subsidies from the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers and Supportive Services for Veterans and their Families (SSVF) rental subsidies are available to pay the rent,” said Yang.

To meet the Mayors’ Challenge, Honolulu launched its “Heroes Housing Heroes” campaign this summer, encouraging property managers and landlords to become heroes by accepting a veterans as tenants.

Cassandra Tanabe, Resident Manager at Hale Wai Vista, an affordable rental complex, has rented to veterans through the HUD-VASH program. “The actual experience of renting to homeless veterans has been a positive one and dealing with the HUDVASH program works,” Tanabe said. “I appreciate the veterans’ proper assessment and background checks and that the deposit and monthly rent is guaranteed. The procedure of renting through the program also advocates for the veterans, and guarantees that the units have been inspected and approved to provide the basic necessities that a tenant would need.”

The HUD-VASH program offers benefits and support for participating landlords. Beside a guaranteed income and security deposit, default risks are reduced by the program’s annual property recertification and ongoing case management support for its tenants.

“Homelessness affects every citizen, and it’s particularly challenging to find available rental units,” Yang added. “We are asking property owners across the island to please join our efforts.”

For more information, please contact the Office of Housing at (808) 768-7769 or jyang@honolulu.gov, or visit www.honolulu.gov/housing/heroeshousingheroes.