Mitchell Attends Dedication Ceremony of Homeless Veteran Transitional Housing
50 Homeless Veterans to Move into New Transitional Housing Community Run by Homeless and Formerly Homeless Veterans
PHOENIX, AZ – June 7, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Rep. Harry E. Mitchell today attended the dedication ceremony of Madison Street Veterans Association’s (MSVA) new transitional housing community, which will help homeless veterans transition from the streets back into family and community living. The center will be run by homeless and formerly homeless veterans. MSVA is an independent organization of homeless veterans and formerly homeless veterans within the Lodestar Day Resource Center, which assists homeless individuals find transitional and permanent housing, as well as job training and placement.
“It’s a tremendous honor and a real pleasure to be here today to help commemorate the opening of this Transitional Housing Center for the Madison Street Veterans Association,” said Mitchell. “As the representative of 65,000 veterans, I believe that Madison Street Veterans is example of that tremendous bond that veterans share – an instinct and commitment to leave no comrade behind. I hope that the MSVA will serve as a model for other organizations around the country.”
50 homeless veterans will move into the community today and MSVA hopes to soon expand the effort into a larger homeless veterans support center.
Mitchell, as the Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, has been working with the Department of Veterans Affairs on the urgent and immediate need to address homeless prevention, including targeting high-risk veterans with early intervention programs and providing ongoing evaluation and support. Last year, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, General Eric K. Shinseki, outlined a five-year plan to reduce homelessness, which includes preventive measures like discharge planning for incarcerated Veterans re-entering society, supportive services for low-income Veterans and their families, a national referral center to link Veterans to local service providers and expanded efforts for education, jobs, health care and housing.
