(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Veterans’ Affairs
Committee Chairman, Senator Patty Murray, released the following statement on
the Department of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development’s joint
report on veterans homelessness which was released today.
“I commend
the Obama Administration for taking real steps to shine a light on a problem
that has for too long been ignored. For too long homeless veterans have been
forgotten heroes. But this report provides an important foundation to
better understand who these veterans are, the nature of the problem they face,
and how to develop solutions to address their needs. This is a critical piece
of the Obama Administration’s laudable effort to prevent
and end homelessness among veterans.
“What this report shows is a stark and finally more accurate picture of
this serious issue. It shows that the
disabilities and mental health challenges facing many of our nation’s veterans
put veterans, particularly those living in poverty, at greater risk of
homelessness. It also shows that
current
economic conditions and the influx of young veterans are putting many more of
our veterans at risk of homelessness as well.
“What this report calls on all of us to do is clear – more. We need to
build on the work we have begun. With the HUD-VASH program that I restarted in
2008 we have been able to provide vouchers and supportive services for those
who have sacrificed for our nation but are now homeless. We need to continue
this program that has proven its worth.
“But we also need to do more to prevent veteran homelessness before it
starts. That means prevention programs like the pilot program I worked with my
colleagues to create near some of our nation’s military installations.
Prevention also includes focusing on getting our veterans into stable
employment. We need to help veterans translate the skills and expertise they
learned on the battlefield into the skills needed in today’s working world.
“We also
need the Administration to continue to come together as they have with this
report. If we are going to bring veterans off the streets and into steady housing and employment we need
VA, HUD, and the Department of Labor to continue working together. I look
forward to working with all of these agencies, as well as the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness,
to put forth innovative and effective solutions to get our veterans into safe,
secure, and stable housing.”
As Chairman of the Senate Housing Appropriations
Committee and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Senator Murray has initiated and
passed into law critical help for homeless veterans including Veterans Affairs
Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) grants which provide individual housing
vouchers and supportive services for homeless veterans. Murray
has also supported the Veterans
Homelessness Prevention Demonstration (VHPD) program which provides housing,
health and other supportive services at areas adjacent to military
installations to help prevent homelessness. Both programs were cited by today’s
report as critical sources of help for homeless veterans.
Today’s report shows that female veterans are twice as likely to be represented in the homeless population as they are to be the U.S. adult female population. Last Congress, Public Law 111-275, the Veterans’ Benefits Act of 2010, included provisions derived from legislation introduced by Chairman Murray which provides new support for homeless women veterans reintegrating into the workforce.
Chairman Murray has also introduced veterans
jobs legislation that aims to reduce a rising unemployment rate among
returning veterans.
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