The Walton County Housing Agency is looking for 10 veterans in need of a home.
The agency was recently notified by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development and Veteran’s Administration 10 vouchers had been approved locally.
The vouchers allow the Housing Agency to pay up to 100 percent of a veteran’s rent, plus offer assistance with monthly utility bills.
The vouchers are part of a national program targeting homeless veterans and their families.
The veterans must have a DD214 and meet other requirements specified by the VA and follow the rules set out by HUD for assisted living facilities. Income is one qualifier and the applying veteran must not be a sexual predator.
“It’s an ongoing program with initially a year lease that can go on year after year as long as they maintain their relationship with the Veteran’s Administration,” said Tom Baker, Director of Housing, Walton County Housing Agency said.
Baker said his office was notified around April 23, 2012 of the available vouchers. In the week of implementing its search for qualified candidates, his employees have identified three possibilities.
Baker said his office maintains a list of landlords that have available Section 8 properties but since giving a number of media interviews, several property owners have contacted his office expressing an interest in giving these veterans a home. However, he said there still exists a need for smaller homes with only one or two bedrooms.
“This is something the administration has decided it is going to really have an emphasis on housing homeless veterans nationwide,” said Baker. “They would like for these 10 veterans to be identified and housed hopefully by then end of July,” said Baker.
“One of the issues the VA has brought to our attention is that these individuals may not have furniture. In fact, they tell us some of them even live in the woods or in tents. We have not experienced that at this time. They may live in their car, van or whatever,” said Baker.
He said if that problem came up there were agencies within the county that would assist with furnishings.
Some of the veterans may have problems that have led to their homelessness, such as a disability or a dependency on drugs or alcohol. However, individuals with problems such as drugs or alcohol who are selected for the vouchers would have to work with the VA and live within the rules of the agency, “such as being arrested, and such as that,” Baker explained, “but we understand they may have issues.”
The best way for veterans to get more information is to contact Baker’s office at (850) 892-8185 or come by his office at 62 Bo Pete Manor Road. “It’s in the same office as the VA, and I am a veteran, so it’s like veterans helping veterans.”
“We are really excited about really helping someone in need. We will take that second step to try to help any way we can if they will just contact us.”