NCHV reports on legislation in the United States Congress that would significantly impact veterans and their families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Current Supported Legislation
Critical Health Access Resource and Grant Extensions (CHARGE) Act of 2023
Endorsements: Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, National Alliance to End Homelessness, Wounded Warrior Project, National Association of State Veterans Homes, Paralyzed Veterans of America
Background: This legislation would extend successful, essential veterans’ programs and authorities from the last few years that expired on May 11. The bill includes provisions related to homelessness, caregivers, and State Veterans Homes.
H.R. 491 The Return Home to Housing Act
Endorsements: : American Legion, National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, BPC Action, Wounded Warrior Project (WWP)
Background: This legislation will increase the reimbursement maximum from 115% ($64.52/day) to 200% ($112.20/day) of the state home domiciliary rate, which will ensure GPD providers in a majority of regions can get adequately reimbursed for their costs of supplying transitional housing and services to unhoused veterans.
H.R. 645 The Healthy Foundations for Homeless Veterans Act
Endorsements: : Disabled American Veterans, National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, MAZON, Bento, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Minority Veterans of America, Community Solutions, The American Legion, and Code Platoon.
Background: This legislation extends the temporary flexibilities granted to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in Section 4201(a) of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2021 to address veterans’ homelessness through the provision of resources for their basic needs.
The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act
Background: The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act would ensure that the men and women who have served have access to the modern, good care and services they have earned. This bill includes a number of bipartisan proposals that would enhance and reform the delivery of services at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by ultimately putting all veterans, their families, and their survivors – not bureaucracy – first.
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Supported Federal Legislation 117th Congress
S. 2172 – NCHV supports the Building Solutions for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness Act of 2021. This critical legislation makes necessary program adjustments to better accommodate homeless veterans with difficulties accessing services, as requested by VA, service providers and veterans. It would expand public transportation for veterans to access care, provide stable housing, and deliver appropriate medical care for aging veterans while they await long-term care placement. Emphasizing continuous improvement, the bill includes an assessment of remaining barriers to securing permanent housing and longer-term program reporting to refine veteran housing outcomes.
S. 2403 – NCHV supports the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach (CVSO) Act which would provide timely resources to county veterans service officers (CVSOs.) As Congress works to reach a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on legislation addressing toxic exposure among veterans, we urge you to maintain these resources for the County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs) who will be helping former service members access their new benefits.
S.3094 — NCHV supports the Reaching Every Homeless Veteran Act of 2021 as NCHV supports extending access to the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) program. NCHV recognizes this will increase the cost of the program, but these should be weighed against the cost benefits incurred by programs pairing HVRP employment services with their housing programs.
H.R. 5025 – NCHV supports this bill which would increase and extend the authorization of appropriations for HVRP.
H.R. 5301 – NCHV supports the provision of technical assistance to recipients of grants for supportive services for very low-income families in permanent housing and comprehensive service programs, and for other purposes.
H.R. 5470 – NCHV supports the HOMES for our Veterans Act of 2021. The bill would improve grants awarded by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for comprehensive service programs to serve homeless veterans. It would remove barriers for existing Capital Grant recipients, allowing them to more readily transition their programs and facilities to meet the current needs of veterans in their community.
H.R. 5606 – NCHV supports the Return Home to Housing Act. This bill is the stand-alone adjustment to the rate of per diem payments provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to grantees that provide services to homeless veterans.
H.R. 5783 – NCHV supports extending access to the HVRP program. NCHV recognizes this will increase the cost of the program, but these should be weighed against the cost benefits incurred by programs pairing HVRP employment services with their housing programs.
H. R. 5624 – NCHV Supports the Ending Veteran Homelessness Act of 2021. The bill requires VA to produce a report with further data on shallow subsidy program under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program.
H.R. 8003 – NCHV Supports extending critical program flexibilities from within P.L. 116-315 – the Isakson /Roe legislation in section 4201, is critical in veterans maintaining communication with VA and access to services past the end of public health emergency designations.
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