On Tuesday, June 16, the House voted 417-2 in favor of the Homes for Heroes Act, a bill that would greatly expand and improve housing services for homeless veterans. NCHV has been working in support of Congressional staff to draft this important veteran homelessness intervention and prevention intiative for three years. Introduced in the 111th Congress by Rep. Al Green (D-TX), the legislation includes the following provisions:

·         Establish the position of Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to coordinate services to homeless veterans and serve as a liaison to the VA, state and local officials, and nonprofit service organizations. 

·         Establish supportive housing and services for very low-income veterans and their families through an assistance program for permanent supportive housing and services for low-income veterans.

·         Exclude veterans benefits payments received from the VA from federal assisted housing rent considerations.

·         Provide rental assistance for homeless veterans, authorizing 20,000 vouchers annually in conjunction with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

·         To place additional priority on veterans, require all local public housing agencies to develop plans to address the needs of homeless veterans as part of their comprehensive housing affordability strategy submitted to HUD.

·         Authorize $1 million in HUD grants to assist housing and service providers to execute their housing projects for very low-income veteran families, fulfill the planning and application process, and assist veterans in obtaining housing or homeless assistance.

·         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.  The bill authorizes up to $1 million for this purpose.

To read the full text of this legislation, click here, and search for "H.R. 403."