Swords to Plowshares Joins City-wide Initiative, SF Homes for Heroes

Press Event Announces “The 100 Day Campaign” June 7, 1:30 pm at City Hall, Room 200

Swords to Plowshares along with the City of San Francisco, the Veteran’s Administration and the Department of Housing and Development (HUD) are partnering to house 50 homeless veterans in 100 days in the midst of an over-heated housing market.

A press conference is scheduled for June 7, 2012 at City Hall to mark the public announcement for this aggressively progressive housing initiative Homes for Heroes. This initiative aims to house 50 veterans over 100 days by working closely with small property owners who will accept HUD VASH vouchers, which pay a portion of rent each month directly to landlords. But, unlike Section 8, VA case managers stand ready to help the veterans and landlord with any issues that may arise that could impact the veterans’ ability to maintain their housing.

“We look forward to counting down from 50 homeless veterans to zero over this time and are confident that with the help of community and local leaders this project will be a great success story for veterans, ‘Swords’ and the city of San Francisco,” said Michael Blecker, Swords to Plowshares’ Executive Director. “This is another step in the right direction for reducing homelessness and poverty in San Francisco, specifically among veterans.”

SF Homes for Heroes aims to target chronically homeless veterans and also provides ongoing case management through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The program has several subsidy levels, the primary subsidy being for a one bedroom unit. The maximum that HUD can pay is $1,612 per month. Many veterans have disability income and are responsible to pay a portion of their rent, but their contribution cannot exceed 40 percent of their income.

“It is an unfortunate fact that single-room occupancy units located in blighted areas of the city, where crime and drug use is often rampant, are often the only choice available to these men and women who have worked diligently to prepare themselves for successful transition into their own apartments,” said Leon Winston, the Chief Operating Officer of Swords to Plowshares, a formerly homeless veteran. “This city-wide effort is already opening more doors for homeless veterans and paving the way for long-term success.”

The initiative will continue to operate and support those veterans already in the program after the 100 days, as well as find additional veterans who can take advantage of the 200 more vouchers allotted for 2012.

“The City and Mayor’s Office of Housing have helped us provide supportive housing to thousands of homeless veterans for the past two decades and we couldn’t be happier to have the boots on the ground support and collaboration we are getting to address real life problems for San Francisco veterans,” said Winston.

Visit www.sfhomesforheroes.org for more information.