New vouchers will help provide homeless veterans with housing

Veterans are 10% of homeless population in PBC

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Posted: 07/28/2011

By: Rochelle Ritchie

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. - New numbers show veterans make up 10% of Palm Beach County's homeless population.

The coordinator for the Homeless Vet Program at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center, says more than $46 million is available to fund hundreds of vouchers to help veterans with housing.

One vet says this news could put him back on the right track.

Don White is 60-years-old and has been living on the streets for the last two months.

He says he spent 23 months in Germany during the Vietnam era.

When he came home he found himself broke and living from place to place, ultimately ending up on the streets. Just last week the VA Medical Center was awarded 50 vouchers to help get homeless vets like White a place of his own.

"The vets you see when you pull up to the intersection and stoplights, every little bit helps, it's a step in the right direction," says White. "I will be loving life, I really will."

In order to receive a voucher vets must first register with the VA's Homeless Vet Program.

The vouchers are on a first come, first serve basis.