On June 16, the United States House of Representatives passed the Homes for Heroes Act (H.R. 403) by a vote of 417-2. This legislation was designed to provide housing assistance for homeless and very low-income veterans.
According to Rep. Al Green (TX-09), an original sponsor of the legislation along with Rep. Michael Michaud (ME-02), on any given night in the United States, over 130,000 of the 500,000 Americans living on the streets, in shelters or in community-based organizations are homeless veterans.
Moreover, according to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, 45% of homeless veterans have a mental illness and over 50% have an addiction.
“This bill does more than merely bring to light the struggles that many veterans face,” said Rep. Michaud when the bill passed the House. “It provides tangible solutions so that veterans can get off the streets and get into sustainable housing.”
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. If it is passed by the full Senate, it can be signed into law by President Barack Obama.
The House version of the Homes for Heroes Act:
- Establishes a $200 million program for housing assistance and services for low-income veterans;
- Expands the successful Department of Housing and Urban Development – Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program, authorizing 20,000 vouchers annually and making the program permanent;
- Authorizes $1 million in HUD grants to assist housing and service providers with the execution of housing projects for veterans;
- Establishes 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
- Requires 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.
