(Hartford, CT) – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, issued the following statement today regarding $696,000 in new funding announced today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide HUD-VASH vouchers for 76 homeless veterans in Connecticut. The vouchers will offer permanent supportive housing to veterans who have experienced homelessness.

“Our brave veterans who protect and serve our nation on the battlefield need and deserve our protection and services as they return home. On any given night, more than 300 veterans are homeless in our state, unacceptable evidence that our nation has a long way to go in meeting the needs of our veterans. These latest funds are a down payment towards fulfilling those broken promises—ensuring that homeless veterans not only receive a safe and affordable roof over their heads, but that they have the sustained, supportive services they need to address the chronic conditions that caused their homelessness in the first place. As ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I will continue to work closely with Connecticut homelessness and veteran advocates in strong efforts to eliminate homelessness in our state and will fight to ensure that all of our returning heroes have access to the safe, affordable housing and supportive services they need and deserve to lead stable, productive lives at home,” Blumenthal said.

Last month, Blumenthal sent a letter to House and Senate appropriators urging increased funding for HUD-VASH vouchers in the FY2016 budget.

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