[NEWS] Homelessness 'effectively ended' for Phila. vets

From Philly.com: 

City and federal officials said Thursday that Philadelphia had "effectively ended" homelessness among military veterans, meaning every veteran in the city who wants housing has it.

Since August 2013, officials said, 1,390 Philadelphia veterans have been connected to permanent housing. Mayor Nutter said 15 remain on the streets because they don't want to be housed.

"I have a message for each of you who are still out there," he said at a City Hall news conference, pausing for a moment to collect himself. "We honor your service and your sacrifices. You deserve a home. We won't give up on you."

The announcement - by Nutter and Julián Castro, U.S. secretary of housing and urban development - comes about a year and a half after the mayor accepted a national challenge from President Obama to end veteran homelessness by the end of 2015. About 859 mayors, nine governors, and 166 county and city officials took the challenge.