Ann Arbor receives $103K to help provide housing for homeless veterans
The Ann Arbor Housing Commission is among seven Michigan housing agencies receiving more than $1.3 million in grants to help provide housing for homeless veterans.
U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, both Michigan Democrats, said the federal grants will help provide rental assistance vouchers to veterans in need.
A total of $130,643 is going to Ann Arbor.
Carl Levin
The grants are part of the Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program.
The program serves homeless veterans by partnering local housing agencies with the Department of Veterans Affairs, which provides counseling and other services.
"I believe that our veterans should not have to stand at the back of any line," Stabenow said. "When they return home, we have a commitment to remember their sacrifices by making sure they have access to health care, job opportunities and the most basic of needs — a place to live."
The agencies receiving the grants and the amounts:
- Michigan State Housing Development Authority: $472,343
- Kent County Housing Commission: $308,209
- Flint Housing Commission: $143,085
- Ann Arbor Housing Commission: $130,643
- Lansing Housing Commission: $122,860
- Battle Creek Housing Commission: $91,475
- Muskegon Housing Commission: $73,429
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
Beerocrat
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 9:41 p.m.
Jee, did anyone even bother to click the huge link that's in this article before complaining? It only takes two minutes to recognize a few things: 1) these are rental vouchers with a sharp limit on admin support to help literally homeless vets get new housing. 2) this was awarded nation-wide based on the number of existing homeless vets. just on these two facts alone, one can assume a few things: 1) this isn't some democratic ploy that levin and stabenow single-handedly plotted, it was a bipartisan effort to help and support those who keep our families safe. 2) it's not random funds to pay for anything, it's targeted to paying a lease. 3) the whole country benefited, including multiple places in MI, so to assume that there's suddenly going to be an influx of panhandlers in ann arbor just doesn't hold up. besides, even if that was the case, more vets in ann arbor? i'd be okay with that any time.
Bcar
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 11:11 a.m.
it will probably end up as $100,000 to manage and administer the money, and $30,000 to those in need of it.
Enso
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 1:13 p.m.
Good estimate. I'm sure you are making an 'educated' guess too.
Bob Krzewinski
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 1:03 a.m.
As a veteran (U.S. Navy - 1973-79) I find some of the comments from people on this forum, most who who don't will not even give their real name to stand behind their statements, absolutely sickening. When a war starts, the civilian population is waving the flags and cheering the troops on to battle. A few years later when these same vets come home, many dealing with PTSD and really mixed up lives, we hear comments that funds for homeless vets will cause their grandkids to pay off the national debt, or that a community getting funds to help homeless vets will attract them to their oh-so-stylish Ann Arbor. And the worst of it, a homeless vet might be seen panhanding in your fair city! I just wonder if these people who find homeless veterans distasteful ever spent any time in the military.
Klayton
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 4:32 a.m.
Thank you for your service Bob and I agree with you. I come from a military family and my grandfather suffered greatly from PTSD (WWII). All of our service men, women and their families deserve dignity and respect.
J Shaker
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 1:58 a.m.
right on Bob
David Frye
Tue, Mar 27, 2012 : 11:27 p.m.
Mind fixing the headline? Right now it says "Ann Arbor receives $103K." The story says $130K.
Pickforddick
Tue, Mar 27, 2012 : 10:44 p.m.
Sorry Carl...I wish I could trust you !!
motorcycleminer
Tue, Mar 27, 2012 : 10:22 p.m.
Just good ole chicago style vote buying ...democrats excell @ spending my $$$ to keep their butts in office...dingell's been at it for 5 decades ...drink more kool-aid little froggies...
Enso
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 1:10 p.m.
I'd rather Democrats give my money to the men and women protecting my country than Republicans giving it to their corporate buddies.
Mike K
Tue, Mar 27, 2012 : 9:45 p.m.
I hope we see a full accounting of this money and how it DIRECTLY impacted homeless vets.
xmo
Tue, Mar 27, 2012 : 9:35 p.m.
I am surprised that any veteran would come to Ann Arbor? It is so ANTI-Military that they really must be desperate.
Enso
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 1:08 p.m.
No it's not. The only people 'ANTI-Military' are people like Bush and Cheney who forced our troops to fight and die for a lie.
Roadman
Tue, Mar 27, 2012 : 9:13 p.m.
Good to see local units of government are going to spending funds to help homeless veterans. It is certainly better than suing them for defamation like the County of Washtenaw did to homeless vet Dwayne Dye for criticizing the Sheriff's department. The county retained the outside law firm and presumable exended thousands of dollars of taxpayer funds to prosecute a civil action before Judge Melinda pMorris. Dye later filed a fedeal civil rights suit against the county. The great irony is the media attention given the defamation suit got more publicity for Dye's allegations than his alleged posting of flyers could ever do. Let's help our veterans.
annarboral
Tue, Mar 27, 2012 : 9:12 p.m.
So Ann Arbor now has a one time grant to attract homeless veterans to Ann Arbor. That's just what we need, that is, more homeless people in Ann Arbor. Pan handling will be on the rise soon! Why can't politicians do the real work of creating real jobs or getting out of the way of businesses that can?
Jim Clarkson
Thu, Mar 29, 2012 : 5:58 a.m.
Attract homeless Veterans to Ann Arbor? They are already here. I would gladly exchange current citizens such as your self for any homeless Vet any day of the week.
Enso
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 : 1:07 p.m.
Mostly because 'business' is what got us into this mess in the first place.
Dog Guy
Tue, Mar 27, 2012 : 8:59 p.m.
How thoughtful of the senators to shovel money at us during this election year! My grandkids will not enjoy having to pay this additional national debt. By the time this funding gets through the bureaucracy to the vets it might buy five used pup tents if they are on sale.