House Passes Legislation to Assist Young Veteran Families

WASHINGTON - This week, the House of Representatives passed the Homeless Veteran Families Act (H.R. 95), cosponsored by Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1). 

“Our nation’s veterans have earned nothing less than our full support when returning to civilian life and ensuring they and their families have a roof over their head should be our utmost priority,” said Congressman Zeldin. “With the responsibility of caring for our nation’s servicemen and women, the VA provides funding to community housing agencies that provide shelter for our nation’s veterans in their time of need, but currently they’re unable to also provide for their dependent minor children. It’s unacceptable that veterans with young families are living out on the street after sacrificing so much, and this bipartisan common sense legislation will finally ensure they have the support they need.”

The Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program offers funding to community housing agencies that provide services to homeless veterans. Currently, the VA does not have the authority to provide reimbursements to these providers for the additional costs of sheltering minor children of homeless veterans. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that this inequity led to a financial disincentive for providers and, in turn, limited housing for veterans with young children. 

The Homeless Veteran Families Act would help address this issue, by allowing the VA to reimburse providers for 50 percent of the per diem costs of housing minor dependents of homeless veterans while the veteran receives services from the grant recipient.