HONOLULU — Veterans who have been granted federal Housing Choice vouchers to pay for all or part of their rents are still homeless due to a lack of affordable options.
Federal officials in Oahu have a backlog of more than 40 veterans who qualify for this assistance but have to wait to access it, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports.
About 400 veterans since 2008 have been able to use the vouchers through the veterans’ affairs arm of the U.S. Department of Housing, said Coordinator Rachelle Russo.
Oahu’s veteran population has increased by 21 percent since last year, according to Honolulu’s 2015 “Point-in-Time” survey.
A veteran may be granted a voucher, Russo said, but can’t use it unless the property meets minimum requirements. A studio apartment, for example, can’t cost more than $1,100 including utilities.
Air Force veteran Allen Person said he’s spent the last two years living Aala Park.
“Most of my friends here are veterans, and I’ve only seen a few of them get off the street,” Person said. “They need more housing. I feel like the city and state forgot us a little bit. I was taught never to leave your man behind. Isn’t that what they are doing here?”
Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed a national pledge in January to eliminate chronic homelessness among veterans by the end of the year. Office of Housing Executive Director Jun Yang encourages the community to consider housing veterans, and said the city is looking for small studios and one-bedroom units.
Housing specialist Bob Shank said while agencies collaborate to solve the issue, increasing numbers of homeless veterans will continue to fill shelters, sleep in cars or on the beach, or camp in the woods.