BOSTON — March 12, 2013 - Massachusetts officials unveiled an ambitious plan Tuesday that they say will virtually end homelessness among military veterans over the next three years.Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray detailed the proposal during a visit to the New England Center for Homeless Veterans in Boston.
Murray said the state wants to reduce the number of homeless veterans in Massachusetts by 1,000 by the end of 2015.
An annual one-night count of the homeless in Massachusetts in 2011 found 1,268 homeless veterans, about 7.6 percent of the state's total homeless population. About 450 of those met the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's definition of chronically homeless.
"I am proud that Massachusetts will become one of only a few states to outline a comprehensive action plan to ensure all veterans have a safe place to call home," Murray said.
Murray said the plan will look at the needs of all men and women who served in the military, regardless of their discharge status. The state will work on getting homeless veterans into stable housing; making sure those most at risk of chronic homelessness remain in housing; ramping up access to benefits; and making sure state, federal and local resources are coordinated. read more>>>
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