The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) applauds the enactment of the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, legislation that takes meaningful steps to increase the nation’s housing supply, reduce barriers to affordable housing development, and modernize federal housing programs.

As communities across the country continue to face a severe shortage of affordable housing, expanding housing supply is an important component of preventing and ending veteran homelessness. The legislation includes a number of provisions but NCHV is particularly encouraged by the legislation’s provisions directly affecting veterans, including measures to increase awareness of VA home loan benefits, improve mortgage disclosures so eligible veterans can better compare their housing options, and exclude veterans’ disability compensation when determining eligibility for HUD-VASH. This provision represents meaningful progress toward one of NCHV’s top federal policy priorities by removing barriers that have prevented some disabled veterans from accessing housing assistance. Expanding the supply of affordable housing is also essential to preventing and ending veteran homelessness, and this legislation takes meaningful steps toward that goal.

While the enactment of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act represents an important step forward, increasing housing supply alone will not end veteran homelessness. Continued investments in supportive services, homelessness prevention, permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, and VA housing programs remain essential to ensuring every veteran has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing.

NCHV looks forward to working with Congress, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and community partners to support implementation of this legislation and ensure its benefits reach veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness.