LARGO, MD – On March 1, 2008, the Housing Authority of Prince George’s County, in partnership with the Department of Social Services, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, and Kairos, a local non-profit organization, admitted its first homeless veteran to its Veteran Rental Assistance Program (VRAP).

The VRAP program will provide rental assistance and supportive services to twenty-five (25) eligible homeless veterans who reside in Prince George’s County as well as help veterans increase life skills and/or income, and ultimately, self-sufficiency.

“On any given night in Prince George’s County, hundreds of veterans who have sacrificed for this country with blood and limb return to the county only to face homelessness.  We need to do better and this is a very small step in addressing a monumental problem”, says Tommie Thompson, Executive Director of the Housing Authority of Prince George’s County.

Homeless veterans interested in the VRAP program must conduct an initial interview with the Department of Social Services and subsequently referred to the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs for a comprehensive case management assessment.  Veterans may contact Victoria Frazer of the Prince George’s Department of Social Services at 301-909-6369.  The veteran program is another Livable Community Initiative.