California voters support plan to spend $600 million for homeless veterans

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/04/us-usa-california-housing-idUSKBN0EF0XS20140604

California voters support plan to spend $600 million for homeless veterans
By Jennifer Chaussee
BERKELEY Calif.
Wed Jun 4, 2014 7:04am EDT

(Reuters) - California residents have voted for a plan to spend $600 million to build houses for homeless veterans in the state with the highest number of ex-servicemen without a roof in the United States.

Under the plan backed by voters in a primary election on Tuesday, the state will sell bonds to build apartments and temporary shelters for qualifying veterans or those recovering from physical injuries or mental health issues.

California has about 25 percent or 19,000 homeless veterans, according to the Coalition for Veterans Housing support group.

With the winding down of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, many of those returning need housing, employment, and mental health and drug treatment.