NEW ORLEANS (AP) — First lady Michelle Obama congratulated the city of New Orleans for being the first city to successfully complete her challenge of housing veterans.

New Orleans’ success in moving homeless veterans off the streets and into housing is an example and challenge for the nation, first lady Michelle Obama said Monday, April 20.

She said city and federal agencies, nonprofits and businesses have found homes for nearly 270 veterans since she started the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness in June. That includes 226 given homes by January, making New Orleans the first major city to meet the challenge, and 42 so far this year, Obama said.

Obama and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu spoke to leaders from government, industry and the nonprofit sector who had gathered from around the country for workshops to learn from each other.

Officials said 432 mayors, seven governors and 131 other local officials have pledged to house all veterans in their communities by the end of this year.

“When veterans come home and kiss the ground, none of them should ever have to sleep on it,” she said.