Bringing Veterans Home touted for success since November 2024 launch.
American Legion Department of New Jersey leadership recently stood alongside state government leaders and other veterans service organizations to celebrate the state’s success in addressing veteran homelessness.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced July 29 that the state’s Bringing Veterans Homes (BVH) initiative is consistently ensuring that more veterans enter housing than homelessness each month in New Jersey.
“No veteran in our state should endure the hardship of homelessness. We are proud that New Jersey is a leader in ending veteran homelessness and we stand ready to serve as a model for other states on this critical issue,” Sherrill said.
Since BVH’s launch in November 2024, more than 2,500 veterans have found permanent housing, and more than $30 million in state and federal funds have been committed to helping place veterans in stable housing and providing them with support services.
New Jersey National Executive Committeeman Gene O’Grady said the department is “grateful to be a partner with BVH.”
“The speed and effectiveness have been incredible,” O’Grady said of the program.
While the state’s use of tenant-based vouchers for emergency housing has been effective, Jim Scanlon, chairman of the department’s Affordable Housing Committee for At-Risk, Homeless and Aging Veterans, said discussions continue to possibly convert a small percentage of those vouchers into project-based vouchers.
“Lenders, developers, financial institutions and philanthropic foundations require Project-Based Vouchers to be secured before they will commit financing or move projects forward,” Scanlon said. “PBVs are especially important because they remain with the property — in our case, the American Legion post — providing long-term financial stability and ensuring the sustainability of these veteran housing developments for decades to come.”
More on BVH: https://bvh.dca.nj.gov/
- Homeless Veterans