Marina Veterans Transition Center gets nearly $6 million in new funding

The Veterans Transition Center in Marina is among 17 agencies in California to benefit from Proposition 41. The VTC will receive $5.9 million in this first round of funding.

The measure known as the Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Bond Act of 2014 authorized $600 million in bonds to provide multi-family housing, such as apartment complexes, to low-income veterans and supportive housing for homeless veterans.

Terry Bare, Executive Director of the VTC says good things are coming, “We’re very honored to be recipients of VHHP funding. It took us about year from first applying to this point to get the good news.”

Bare went on to say this funding will allow the VTC to construct a phase two in their housing complex on Hayes Circle in Marina, “The phase two will be 70 new units for low income and homeless veterans on the old Fort Ord. We have 20 duplexes in our phase one on Hayes Circle. We’re getting ready to go to the City of Marina with our design and plan and hope to begin construction in 15 months, with a move-in target of early 2017.”

Bare thanked the Housing Authority of Monterey County and the Coalition of Homeless Service Providers with aiding them in obtaining this grant.

“With cities statewide pushing to meet the national goal of ending Veteran’s homelessness, this funding could not have come at a better time,” said HUD Regional Administrator Ophelia Basgal. “These targeted investments will leverage HUD housing assistance and VA support services to end the homelessness of hundreds of veterans and their families across California.”

Tuesday’s announcement came from the California Department of Housing and Community Development, the California Department of Veterans Affairs, and the California Housing Finance Agency.

Agencies such as the VTC in Marina have committed to providing intensive supportive services responsive to Veterans’ individual needs, such as case management, drug and alcohol counseling, health clinics, disability benefit advocacy, as well as family and childcare services.

“California is moving a giant step forward in assisting our homeless Veterans,” said California Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary Theresa Gunn. “This team effort will give more Veterans access to affordable, stable housing options.”

A second round of awards is expected to be available this fall, providing additional opportunities to apply for and receive funds for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable multifamily housing for California’s Veterans and their families.