Veterans get vouchers for housing at Jefferson City church
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Central Missouri Community Action and the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital teamed up Thursday to connect eligible veterans with housing vouchers awarded by the Office of Housing and Urban Development.
"We understand that the need for homeless veterans is out there [and] we have vouchers available," CMCA Housing Services Program Manager Colita Harvey said.
The not-for-profit and the VA hospital organized the HUD-VASH Day at First United Methodist Church in Jefferson City. Harvey said eight veterans were connected with resources.
Harvey estimated there are around 200 homeless veterans in the Mid-Missouri area, but believes that's an undercount.
"We know that there are still some that are just not documented for various reasons," Harvey said. "Maybe they are already homeless, maybe they've been homeless for some time. But for whatever reason, not all homeless veterans are accounted for. We know the need is great."
According to the Missouri Balance of State Continuum of Care Point in Time Count, there were 327 documented homeless veterans in the state in 2022. That number rose by 27% to 405 homeless veterans in 2023.
According to the Boone County Coalition to End Homelessness, as of Monday, there were 47 homeless veterans in the county.
"They have done a lot for our country and not just that, it's just that there shouldn't be any homeless veterans out there," Harvey said.
The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program provides rental assistance to qualified homeless veterans in Callaway, Cole, Cooper, Howard, Moniteau and Osage Counties.
