MHProNews has learned from gainesville.com a planned 38 unit modular housing complex to accommodate 112 homeless veterans may be scuttled by the Veterans Administration because the Alachua Count Housing Authority (ACHA) has made “minimal progress toward completion,” according to a letter received by the authority from Jeffrey L. Quarles, director of the VA’s Grant/Per Diem Program. The letter said the project was supposed to be completed by May 1, 2013, but ACHA Director Herbert Hernandez says he became director in Feb. of this year and cannot find documents purporting to show the completion date. He has until May 10, 2013 to explain why the VA should continue with the plan, noting the paperwork has been finalized to break ground. While the exact date for completion has been a matter of uncertainty for the housing authority, Hernandez says he has heard second hand that completion must be by Aug. 1, 2013 because the VA cannot fund projects after that date due to fiscal year concerns. Chairman of the housing authority, Kali Blount, says the problem may stem from inaccuracies on a form submitted to the VA. ACHA has appealed to elected officials to help save the $20 million project, which is designed to provide transitional housing for veterans to help rebuild their lives, and includes funding for 20 years of programming.
(Image credit: gainesville.com/Alachua County Housing Authority