Swords to Plowshares

Update: Write your Senator today and ask for their support of S. 1084, the Homes for Heroes Act; legislation that would provide housing assistance for very low-income and formerly homeless veterans. The companion bill, HR 3329, was amended by the House Financial Services Committee recently and then passed the House of Representatives on July 9 by a vote of 412-9. We urge the Senate to take similar action before adjourning later this year.

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Ask your senator to support S. 1084, the Homes for Heroes Act of 2007, legislation that would provide housing assistance for very low-income and formerly homeless veterans. The companion bill, HR 3329, the Homes for Heroes Act of 2008, passed the House of Representatives on July 9, 2008 by a vote of 412-9. Tell your senator you hope the Senate will take similar action and explain why permanent supportive housing will help to reduce, eliminate and prevent homelessness among veterans in your state.

Issue Status

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) developed comprehensive legislation to develop and expand permanent housing opportunities for very low-income veterans to prevent homelessness. The legislation, the “Homes for Heroes Act of 2008,” would establish new programs and activities pertaining to veterans within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Senator Obama (D-IL) introduced S. 1084, the Homes for Heroes Act in the Senate and Rep. Al Green (TX-9) introduced a companion bill, H.R. 3329, in the House.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSED H.R. 3329 ON JULY 9, 2008. NOW SUPPORT IS NEEDED TO PASS THE BILL IN THE SENATE.

Why this Matters

• According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 1.5 million veterans have incomes that fall below the federal poverty level.

• The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates between 150,000 and 200,000 veterans are homeless on any given night; more than 300,000 veterans experience homelessness over the course of a year.

• Contrary to the perceptions that our nation’s veterans are well-supported, in fact many go without the services they require. This is nowhere more apparent than in their need for safe, affordable, and permanent housing.

• While the federal government makes a sizeable investment in homeownership opportunities for veterans, its commitment to housing for low-income veterans is non-existent.

• Veterans are not well-served through existing housing assistance programs due to their program designs.

• Veterans are not a priority population for federally assisted housing.

• There is no national rental housing assistance program targeted to veterans.

• The HUD-VASH program, which provides rental assistance vouchers for veterans with disabilities, matched with supportive services provided by the VA, is the only permanent housing assistance program targeted to any veteran population. For FY 2008, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 included $75 million for 7,500 new Section 8 vouchers for homeless veterans.

• HUD has no Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of HUD.

Background

The Homes for Heroes Act of 2008 consists of eight sections:

Section 1 establishes the measure’s short title.

Section 2 establishes a position of Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs within HUD.

Section 3 authorizes the HUD Secretary to establish a supportive housing program for very low-income veteran families. HUD would provide housing assistance to such veteran families via planning grants, capital advances, project rental assistance, and technical assistance to nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives proposing to develop such housing. VA would provide funding for supportive services to residents.

Section 4 authorizes an increase in budget authority under the project rental assistance component of the Housing Choice Voucher program to finance 20,000 rental assistance vouchers for homeless veterans.

Section 5 requires states and localities to include veterans as a special needs population in their public housing agency plans and their comprehensive housing affordability strategies.

Section 6 exempts from calculation of a family’s rental payment for federally assisted housing the amount of income the family receives from VA compensation.

Section 7 authorizes the HUD Secretary to establish a technical assistance program to assist veteran service providers on federally assisted housing matters.

Section 8 requires HUD to issue an annual report on its programs and activities pertaining to veterans.

Sample Letter

Below is a sample letter you can use to urge your Senator to support our troops when they come home.

August XX, 2008

The Honorable XXX XXX
United States Senate
XXXX Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-0505

Dear Senator XXXX,

(Briefly introduce yourself or organization): Swords to Plowshares is community-based organization founded by Vietnam veterans in 1974 that provides supportive services and housing to homeless veterans. We are writing to ask for your support of S. 1084, the Homes for Heroes Act; legislation that would provide housing assistance for very low-income and formerly homeless veterans. The companion Bill, HR 3329, was amended by the House Financial Services Committee and recently passed the House of Representatives on July 9 by a vote of 412-9. We hope the Senate will take similar action before adjourning later this year.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) officials recently reported on any given night, between 150,000 and 200,000 veterans are homeless. Veterans are at a greater risk of becoming homeless due to health problems (post traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse issues, mental health disorders), economic issues (extremely low or no livable income), and a shortage of affordable housing. While most currently homeless veterans served during prior conflicts or in peacetime, the newest generation of combat veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom (OIF-OEF), both men and women, are returning home and suffering from war-related conditions that may put them at risk for homelessness. A growing trend in homelessness among these new veterans points to a need to develop a coordinated approach to reduce, eliminate and prevent homelessness among all veterans.

S. 1084 and H.R. 3329 will provide shelter for homeless veteran families and help prevent low-income families from falling into homelessness. Specifically, the legislation would authorize the HUD Secretary to establish a housing program for very low-income veteran families with supportive services provided by the VA; designate a position of Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs within HUD; authorize an increase in budget authority under the project rental assistance component of the Housing Choice Voucher program to finance 20,000 rental assistance vouchers for homeless veterans; and require HUD to issue an annual report on its programs and activities pertaining to veterans.

To meet the current and future needs of our nation’s most vulnerable veterans, please support the Homes for Heroes Act. Supporting this historic veteran homelessness prevention initiative will be a giant step forward towards ending veteran homelessness in America.

Sincerely,
Name
Position or Military Status (if applicable)

Who is your Senator?

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