Congressman Al Green Moves Bill to Aid Homeless Veterans

(Washington, DC)--Today, the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity voted to pass H.R. 3329, the Homes for Heroes Act, paving the way for a vote in the House of Representatives as early as next week. Congressman Al Green (TX-09), a member of the Housing Subcommittee, introduced this legislation which will provide shelter for homeless veterans and their families and help prevent low-income veteran families from falling into homelessness.  On any given night in this country, 800,000 persons experience homelessness and, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), nearly 200,000 of these homeless Americans are adult veterans who live on the streets, in shelters or in community-based organizations.  Nearly 400,000 veterans may experience homelessness at some point during the course of a year and African-American and Latino veterans account for a disproportionate 56 percent of all homeless veterans.

“While the brave men and women of our nation’s armed forces have risked their lives to protect us within and without our homes, too many among them have no place to call home,” Congressman Al Green said.  “Unfortunately, approximately 150,000 homeless heroes do not have access to the vital permanent housing and supportive services they need each year.  We must work together to truly honor those who have sacrificed for our country by providing them with the assistance they deserve and have so richly earned.”

Congressman Al  Green worked with Congressman Mike Michaud to introduce the Homes for Heroes Act in August 2007.  The Senate companion bill, S. 1084, was introduced by Senator Barack Obama in April 2007.  In advance of today’s mark-up, 18 organizations sent a joint letter to Housing Subcommittee Chairwoman Maxine Waters and Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito in support of H.R. 3329, which will:
• Establish a $200 million assistance program for supportive housing and services for low-income veterans;
• Expand the highly successful Department of Housing and Urban Development - Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program, authorizing 20,000 vouchers annually and making the program permanent;
• Authorize $1 million in HUD grants to assist housing and service providers with the execution of their housing projects for veterans assisted by HUD, fulfilling the planning and application process, and assisting veterans in obtaining permanent housing or homeless assistance;
• Establish the position of Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs within HUD to coordinate services to homeless veterans and serve as a liaison to the Department of Veterans Affairs, state and local officials, and nonprofit service organizations; and
• Require HUD to submit a comprehensive annual report to Congress on the housing needs of homeless veterans and the steps HUD has taken under the programs provided for in the bill.

“I want to thank my colleagues, Chairwoman Waters and Congressman Michaud, for their dedication to this critical legislation that will prevent homelessness and provide affordable housing opportunities for our nation’s heroes,” Congressman Al Green said.  “Our military men and women have been there to answer their nation’s call to duty, yet regrettably our government has not always been there for them. With the Homes for Heroes Act, we can look forward to a brighter future for all of our veterans whether they have served one term of enlistment, or have given a lifetime of service.  This is the least a grateful nation can do.”