WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) – ranking member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs – today announced that the Fiscal Year 2016 appropriations bill includes funding to help veterans secure housing. The bill allocates $60 million to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) voucher program and $5.7 million to the Housing Assistance for Veterans Act (HAVEN) grant program.
“Through a combination of increased federal investments – like HUD-VASH – and improved services, our nation has made real progress towards ending veterans’ homelessness. Since 2010, homelessness among veterans has declined 36 percent,” Brown said. “But even one homeless veteran is too many. Our veterans have earned our respect gratitude. We cannot stand by while some of them face life on the street. This important investment will help ensure that all veterans have a place to call home.”
Through the HUD-VASH program, local housing authorities provide critical rental assistance for homeless veterans while working in partnership with local VA centers to provide case management and clinical services. The FY 2016 appropriations bill will provide HUD-VASH vouchers to approximately 8,000 additional veterans. Under the HAVEN Act program, HUD will award grants to nonprofit organizations to help make home repairs and improvements for disabled or low-income veterans, such as installation of wheelchair ramps or widening doorways.
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