Lowell Housing Authority outlines veteran housing options, says VASH vouchers at capacity

At the June meeting of the Lowell Veterans Commission, representatives from the Lowell Housing Authority told commissioners they can help veterans access public housing and vouchers but that the authority’s VASH (Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) slots are fully subscribed.

Allison Patel, chief admissions officer for the Lowell Housing Authority, said the authority’s portfolio includes federal public-housing stock, multifamily units, and state-funded units and listed the authority’s voucher counts and wait lists as background for commissioners and community partners. "VASH vouchers are one of the most impactful tools that we use at the Lowell Housing Authority," Patel said, adding that VASH pairs a housing voucher with case management from the VA.

The presentation mattered to commissioners because Patel said many eligible veterans fail to claim preferences or complete applications correctly, slowing their movement up wait lists. She offered training for outreach partners and said LHA staff will work with the city’s veteran liaison and local outreach teams to make sure veterans apply with the proper paperwork.

Patel said the authority currently has five VASH vouchers and that those slots are at capacity; referrals for VASH come from the VA. She identified Jessica McGuire at the Bedford VA as a referral contact. Patel also described general wait-list preferences that can speed placement for veterans: residency in Lowell, working at least 20 hours per week or receiving a pension or disability, and veteran status. She said those preferences carry different weights and can combine — a single applicant may qualify for multiple preferences that move them higher on lists.

Patel gave counts and program figures to illustrate demand: she described the LHA portfolio as including federal public-housing units and 42 multifamily units, 138 state-funded units, about 1,392 Housing Choice vouchers and 263 state vouchers, nine veterans on Section 8 and 121 veterans in public housing, with roughly 154 people on a longer wait list. She cautioned that income limits and other eligibility rules apply, and said rent calculations for eligible units typically follow a 30% of income rule.

Patel outlined two upcoming or proposed projects the LHA said could add veteran housing: the Merrimack Street Corridor project, which she described as 118 units with 62 project-based units administered by the LHA; and Hadley House, a building the authority owns where the land is currently owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation and for which LHA is seeking additional approvals. She said Hadley House could include three to five units prioritized for veterans if the land-ownership issues clear.

Commissioners and staff discussed local outreach. Paul Paradise, acting chair of the commission, and others pointed to the city’s co-op outreach team and the veteran liaison, Eric Lamash, as partners for training and referrals. Patel said she will set aside time to train co-op staff and other community partners on completing applications and documenting preferences so veterans are not delayed by paperwork errors.

Commission members asked whether landlords can indicate they will accept vouchers. Patel said vouchers cannot be issued without funding; if batch vouchers become available, landlords could be connected to voucher holders through VA or Housing Authority referral offices. She recommended contacting the Bedford VA housing office for next steps for landlords who want to accept veteran tenants.

Patel left printed contact information and application guides with the commission and asked commissioners to refer veterans and community partners to LHA staff if they need application help.

For now, Patel said, outreach and correct documentation are the most effective tools to help Lowell veterans access existing housing resources while the authority seeks more VASH slots and moves forward on new developments.