2004 Public Policy Recommendation

Appropriate $50 million in FY 2005 for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP).

U.S. Senators — All Senators — Write a letter to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-H) Chair Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Ranking Member Tom Harkin (D-IA) urging them to include $50 million for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program in the “Chairman’s Mark” of the FY 2005 Labor-H appropriations measure.  Senators on the Appropriations Committee — Prepare to offer an amendment during markup of the FY 2005 Labor-H appropriations measure to increase funding for HVRP to $50 million.

U.S. Representatives — All Representatives — Write a letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman C.W. Bill Young and Ranking Member David Obey (D-WI) expressing concern with the committee's decision to provide only level funding of $19 million for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, and to urge them to increase funding to $50 million in a floor amendment to the committee-passed measure.

Issue Status

The President’s FY 2005 Budget, submitted to Congress in February 2004, included $19 million for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, the same level as appropriated to it in FY 2004. 

In late July, the Appropriations Committee in the House of Representatives approved a FY 2005 Labor-H appropriations measure with $19 million for HVRP.

The Senate Labor-H subcommittee may mark up its version of a FY 2005 Labor-H appropriations bill in early September.

Why this Matters:

• Homeless veterans have many additional barriers to employment than non-homeless veterans due to their lack of housing.
  HVRP grantees remove those barriers through specialized supports unavailable through other employment services programs.
• HVRP grantees are able to place HVRP participants into employment for $2,100 per placement, a tiny investment for moving a veteran out of homelessness, and off of dependency on public programs.
• HVRP is the primary employment services program accessible by homeless veterans and the only targeted employment program for any homeless subpopulation.
• DOL estimates that only 16,800 homeless veterans will be served through HVRP at the FY 2004 appropriation level of $19 million.  This figure represents just three percent of the overall homeless veteran population, which the Department of Veterans Affairs estimates numbers more than 500,000 over the course of a year.
• An appropriation at the authorized level of $50 million would enable HVRP grantees to reach approximately 44,000 homeless veterans.
• The U.S. Department of Labor has indicated that if funding is not increased for the program this year, it is unlikely there would be a competition for HVRP new start grants in FY 2005.
• HVRP is being used as the account to fund a joint Department of Labor and Department of Veterans Affairs initiative authorized by Congress to assist veterans incarcerated in their reentry to the community.  This decision essentially adds a new purpose to the HVRP program, for which additional funds are needed.

Background

The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP), within the Department of Labor’s Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS), provides competitive grants to community-based, faith-based, and public organizations to offer outreach, job placement and supportive services to homeless veterans. 

HVRP grants are intended to address two objectives: (a) to provide services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force, and (b) to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans. 

HVRP grants are funded on a three-year cycle.  In 2003, DOL funded HVRP 68 grantees in 32 states and the District of Columbia.

HVRP was first authorized in 1987 under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (now called the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act).  Congress most recently reauthorized HVRP through FY 2006 at the $50 million level annually through the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act.

The FY 2004 appropriation for HVRP is $19 million.

Committees of Jurisdiction

Senate—Appropriations, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.  Chair, Arlen Specter (R-PA); Ranking Member, Tom Harkin (D-IA).  House—Appropriations, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.  Chair, Ralph Regula (R-OH); Ranking Member, David Obey (D-WI).

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