New Program To Help Homeless Veterans Launches In King County

KING COUNTY, WA — King County has launched a program aimed to house more homeless veterans, using a new partnership between the King County Housing Authority and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Officials touted the "Collaborative Case Management" pilot program as the first of its kind in the nation, utilizing federal housing vouchers and local support services to find stable homes for more than 140 veterans.

"King County is proud to join our partners at the VA and the King County Housing Authority to maximize federal and local assistance to house veterans and their families," said King County Executive Dow Constantine. "Working together, we are creating housing and supportive services so that every veteran returning to King County after serving our county can secure a safe and stable home."

The pilot program launched in June and is being coordinated through the King County Veterans Program with support from the voter-approved Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy. The program matches low-income, unhoused veterans with unused federal rental assistance vouchers and works to connect them with employment opportunities, training resources, physical and behavioral health services and emergency food assistance.

"When veterans experiencing homelessness have the right opportunities, they can be successful," said Michael Tadych, director of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System. "Strong, innovative federal, state, and local partnerships that place the needs of our veterans front and center, like King County's Collaborative Case Management Pilot program, are essential in ensuring our most vulnerable veterans receive the support they need."

In a news release Tuesday, the county said its program had successfully housed its first veteran, William Ingram, an Army veteran who served in Korea.

Ingram released a statement via the county, which reads:

"The CCM program is the best program because it allows Veterans like myself to get housed sooner than being on a housing waiting list. I would recommend the CCM program to any Veteran experiencing homelessness. Now I do not have to stress, I can really focus on my health. I may need surgery again because the hardware in my knee needs to be replaced. Being in permanent housing thanks to the CCM program allows me to prepare for that. Also, I have plans to return to school – I have 10 credits left before I can receive my business associate degree."

Residents can learn more about the King County Veterans Program online.