Write Your Senator in Support of the Homes for Heroes Act!

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 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.

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)

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