SC Receives More Than $720,000 to Help Homeless Veterans

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Columbia , S.C. (WOLO) — South Carolina was awarded more than $720,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help homeless veterans. The funds are divided between three cities in the state; Charleston, Columbia, and Myrtle Beach. City and federal officials are taking aim at the issue of veteran homelessness. “These men and women have served our community and nation with honor and distinction and now it’s our turn to serve them,” said Mayor Steve Benjamin. In a national effort to take homeless veterans off the street, federal agencies awarded South Carolina more than $720,000 to provide rental assistance to veterans, more than $220,000 of that will go to the Columbia Housing Authority. “This will allow us again to take care of well deserving veterans and provide decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing for them that they can call a permanent home,” said Larry Knightner, SC HUD Field Officer Director. The money is distributed through a voucher program. With help from the local VA hospital, veterans can receives their voucher from the housing authority. “The beauty of a VASH voucher is it’s sufficient enough to pay for a real good place to live,” said Craig Currey, with Transitions. With nearly 90 veterans visiting the inclement weather shelter this winter, Mayor Steve Benjamin said this is an issue to be aggressive about. “There are very few issues that we discuss in this country that you find unanimous support , and certainly providing services to the men and women who work and sacrifice to provide the very blanket of freedom that we sleep under every day is one of them, ” said Mayor Benjamin.