BOISE - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Veterans Affairs announced they will give almost $5 million in vouchers to public housing authorities among four different states in the Northwest. Idaho is one of those states.
The Boise City/Ada County Housing Authority and the Boise VA are two Treasure Valley organizations in charge of distributing the vouchers to vets.
"This will bring our total number of vouchers to 192. I think there is about 320 for the whole state of Idaho, so we have a majority of the vouchers here in Ada County. The Boise VA provides the case management and clinical services so they identify eligible veterans," said Jillian Patterson with the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authority.
Eligible veterans pay anywhere between 30 to 40 percent of their monthly income toward rent and the rest is subsidized.
Patterson says in total, the money will help at least five veterans get off the street in the Treasure Valley.
We have veterans living in their cars, living by the river, all over the place, it’s something that we are trying to curb," said Danny Pugmire, who runs the Idaho Veterans Garden.
Pugmire works closely with homeless vets like Otto.
"I think the country should take better care of their veterans," said Otto.
After hearing the news about more housing vouchers, they both agree every penny helps a struggling vet.
"It will change the lives of a lot of veterans, especially here in Idaho," said Pugmire.
"That's good they need to do that, they need to do more really," adds Otto.