“We’ve helped bring tens of thousands of veterans off the streets, but we’re not slowing down,” President Barack Obama said while addressing the Disabled American Veterans convention in Atlanta on August 1. “We will not stop until every veteran who fought for America has a home in America.”

The White House attributed the progress in reducing veteran homelessness to the launch of Opening Doors in 2010, the government’s first-ever strategic plan to prevent and end veteran homelessness. Another fruitful initiative has been the partnership between the HUD and Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). HUD provides rental assistance to homeless veterans while the VA offers clinical services and case management through their Supportive Housing program. Since 2010, more than 360,000 veterans and their families have received housing.

First Lady Michelle Obama’s Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness has also contributed. She launched the nationwide campaign in 2014. Over 880 mayors, governors and other local officials were tasked with committing to the goal of ending veteran homelessness in their communities. White House officials said Houston and New Orleans managed to end chronic veteran homelessness in 2015.

Although the Obama administration originally vowed to end chronic veteran homelessness this year, it decided to extend the deadline to 2017 due to budgetary reasons. Veterans’ advocates are optimistic about the progress so far. However, there is still a long way to go when it comes to ensuring veterans nationwide are kept off the streets with permanent housing.

The bulk of the funding – just under $1 million – will go to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, located in Detroit.

The Ann Arbor Housing Commission, Kent County Housing Commission, and Lansing Housing Commission, along with VA health care facilities in those locations, will each receive $100,000 or more.

The funding is part of the VA’s Supportive Housing program, which combines vouchers for rental housing with clinical services and case management.

Michigan’s US senators, Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, announced the allocation in a statement that stressed the sacrifice U.S. soldiers make and the importance of helping them secure permanent housing and adequate health care.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact a veterans lawyer, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800