Jan. 16, 2014

The appropriations package currently under consideration in Congress has some good news for homeless veterans and service providers across the country. Though amorphous until passed by both houses, the current proposal on the floor of the House of Representatives would maintain funding levels for all of the veteran homelessness programs, and increase funding for the Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program.

This appropriations omnibus is effective for Fiscal Year 2014, which began when the government shut down last October. Because of the two-year appropriation cycle that the Veterans Health Administration is engaged in however, this omnibus covers not only the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs for FY 2014 but also the VA programs for FY 2015. Below is a list of highlights from the appropriations bills currently under consideration that will directly impact homeless veterans and service providers:

An additional $75 million for about 10,000 new Housing and Urban Development – VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers in FY 2014

A steady funding level of $38 million for the Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program (HVRP) at the Department of Labor for FY 2014

A steady funding level for Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) of $300 million per year for both FY 2014 and FY 2015

A steady funding level for GPD of $235 million for FY 2014

And an increased funding level of $250 million for GPD in FY 2015

The $15 million increase to the GPD program in FY 2015 will bring all of the veteran homelessness programs administered directly by VA up to their full yearly funding caps.

To keep track of active legislation, and in the weeks to come to view NCHV’s 2014 Policy Statements, visit the policy section of our website, at www.nchv.org/index.php/policy.