WASHINGTON – The Interagency Council on Homelessness has selected Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi to serve as its chairman beginning in April 2004.
The council is composed of 20 federal agencies involved in assisting the homeless. Last year, President Bush reactivated the council to better coordinate the homeless assistance activities of the individual agencies and to create strategies to end chronic homelessness. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson has served as chairman of the Interagency Council since March 2003.
This month, council members HHS, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awarded $35 million to 11 communities that have put together unique partnerships of providers offering housing, health care, mental health, substance abuse and veterans services to the homeless. VA awarded $4.6 million in grants as part of the council’s initiative.
“This unprecedented interagency cooperation reflects President Bush’s determination to include homeless veterans in our efforts to end chronic homelessness in America,” said Principi. “I applaud Secretary Thompson for his leadership as chairman of the Interagency Council and I look forward to continuing the council’s efforts to support the president’s goals.”
More information about VA’s homeless assistance program can be found at http://www.va.gov/homeless on the Internet.
# # #
Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.
Subscribe today to receive these news releases in your inbox.
