Homes for Heroes approved by House of Representatives
All thirteen New Jersey Congress members vote YES!
On Tuesday, June 16, the House voted 417-2 in favor of the Homes for Heroes Act. All thirteen members of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation supported this important piece of legislation that will expand and improve housing services for homeless veterans. This legislation will address the severe problem of veteran’s homelessness and housing crises by authorizing new housing vouchers for homeless veterans and their families create the position of Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs at HUD, and a new $200 million housing production program to benefit low-income veterans. It would also provide funding for 20,000 new housing choice vouchers for homeless veterans.
To read the full text of the legislation click here.
To view the full roll call vote click here.
The will now goes to the Senate where S. 1160 is sponsored by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and co-sponsored by New Jersey Senator Menendez has been referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. The legislation, S. 1160, is very similar to legislation that was introduced in the 110th Congress by then-Senator Barack Obama (D-IL). To read the full text of the legislation click here.
The Homes for Heroes Act was one of the items that was included in the 1st Annual Congressional Report Card.
Among the key provisions are:
- Establish the position of Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to coordinate services to homeless veterans and serve as a liaison to the VA, state and local officials, and nonprofit service organizations.
- Establish supportive housing and services for very low-income veterans and their families through an assistance program for permanent supportive housing and services for low-income veterans.
- Exclude veterans benefits from the VA from federal assisted housing rent considerations.
- Provide rental assistance for homeless veterans, authorizing 20,000 vouchers annually in conjunction with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
- To place additional priority on veterans, require all local public housing agencies to develop plans to address the needs of homeless veterans as part of their comprehensive housing affordability strategy submitted to HUD.
- Authorize $1 million in HUD grants to assist housing and service providers to execute their housing projects for very low-income veteran families, fulfill the planning and application process, and assist veterans in obtaining housing or homeless assistance.
- Require HUD to submit a comprehensive annual report to Congress on the housing needs of homeless veterans and the steps HUD has taken under the programs provided for in the bill. The bill authorizes up to $1 million for this purpose.
