The Department of Housing and Urban Development teamed up with the Department of Veteran Affairs to provide 9,000 homeless veterans a permanent place to call home.

The supportive housing assistance announced will provide $60 million to local public housing agencies across the country to provide permanent supportive housing to homeless veterans.

The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by the VA. 

HUD-VASH is a critical component of the Obama Administration’s commitment to end veteran and long-term chronic homelessness by 2015.

Shaun Donovan, secretary of HUD, and VA Secretary Eric Shinseki announced this additional support for homeless veterans in an address to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans Annual Conference Wednesday in Washington.

“Our veterans have answered the call of duty. That’s why our nation has its own duty — to help homeless servicemen and women rejoin the very communities they have given so much to protect,” Donovan said. 

He added, “These grants make it possible to help more veterans obtain housing, bringing us steps closer to our goal of ending veteran homelessness by 2015.”

The grant announced Wednesday is part of $75 million appropriated this year to support the housing needs of homeless veterans. This is the first round of the 2013 funding. 

“These HUD-VASH vouchers are a critical resource to accomplish our shared goal of ending Veterans’ homelessness in 2015,” Shinseki said.

He added, “With the continued support of President Obama, Congress, and our community partners, we will end homelessness among Veterans and provide these brave men and women with the earned care and benefits that help them live productive, meaningful lives.”

HUD expects to announce more HUD-VASH funding this summer.