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Making Progress For Homeless Veterans

The Kentucky Housing Corp. says several hundred veterans remain homeless in Kentucky, and it is offering vouchers for housing in many counties.

The agency says it wants to make sure all veterans know about the program known as Veterans Emerging Through Transition and don't assume they aren't eligible before contacting a participating agency. Preference is given to qualified veterans regardless of discharge status.

Officials say the process moves quickly once paperwork is finished, with veterans placed in housing in a few months.

The housing agency says it will continue the program until all 100 set-aside vouchers are used.

Meanwhile, the federal government has announced that the city of Louisville has become the first in the state to eradicate veteran homelessness.

U.S. Housing and Urban Development regional administrator Ed Jennings told a crowd gathered in downtown Louisville for a Veterans Day parade that the city housed more than 400 veterans in the last year.

Mayor Greg Fischer was the first in Kentucky to sign up for President Barack Obama's call to end homelessness among veterans.

Gov.-elect Matt Bevin, a Republican who bashed Obama's presidency during his campaign, praised the Democratic mayor's success in implementing the program and pledged to spread it across the state.

Bevin said he plans to make Kentucky "a beacon to the rest of America" and "honor veterans like we have never honored veterans before."