Statement of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans to the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs

Legislative hearing: Pending Health Care Legislation

May 21, 2008

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) appreciates the opportunity to submit written testimony to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee regarding S. 2273, the Enhanced Opportunities for Formerly Homeless Veterans Residing in Permanent Housing Act of 2007, a bill that would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct pilot programs of grants to coordinate the provision of supportive services available in the local community to very low income, formerly homeless veterans residing in permanent housing.

The homeless veteran assistance movement NCHV represents began in earnest in 1990, but like a locomotive it took time to build the momentum that has turned the battle in our favor. In partnership with the Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA), Labor, and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – supported by funding measures this committee has championed – our community veteran service providers have helped reduce the number of homeless veterans on any given night in America by 38% in the last six years.

This assessment is not based on the biases of advocates and service providers, but by the federal agencies charged with identifying and addressing the needs of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.

To its credit, the VA has presented to Congress an annual estimate of the number of homeless veterans every year since 1994. It is called the CHALENG project, which stands for Community Homelessness Assessment, and Local Education Networking Groups. In 2003 the VA CHALENG report estimate of the number of homeless veterans on any given day stood at more than 314,000; in 2006 that number had dropped to about 194,000. We have been advised the estimate in the soon-to-be published 2007 CHALENG Report shows a continued decline, to about 154,000.    

Part of that reduction can be attributed to better data collection and efforts to avoid multiple counts of homeless clients who receive assistance from more than one service provider in a given service area. But in testimony before this committee in 2006, VA officials affirmed the number of homeless veterans was on the decline, and credited the agency’s partnership with community-based and faith-based organizations for making that downturn possible.

Addressing Prevention of Veteran Homelessness

The reduction in the number of homeless veterans on the streets of America each night proves the partnership of federal agencies and community organizations – with the leadership and oversight of Congress – has succeeded in building an intervention network that is effective and efficient. That network must continue its work for the foreseeable future, but its impact is commendable and offers hope that we can, indeed, triumph in the campaign to end veteran homelessness.

However, the lessons we have learned and the knowledge we have gained during the last two decades must also guide our nation’s leaders and policy makers in their efforts to prevent future homelessness among veterans who are still at risk due to health and economic pressures, and the newest generation of combat veterans returning from Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Enduring Freedom (OEF).

The lack of affordable permanent housing is cited as the No. 1 unmet need of America’s veterans, according to the VA CHALENG report. Last year, Public Law 110-161 included $75 million in FY 2008 for the joint HUD-VA Supported Housing Program (HUD-VASH), which allowed HUD and VA to make up to 10,000 HUD-VA supportive incremental housing vouchers available to veterans with chronic health and disability challenges.  NCHV is pleased HUD has requested another increase in equal measure in FY 2009 and hope this new funding will be approved by the Congress.

The affordable housing crisis, however, extends far beyond the realm of the VA system and its community partners. Once veterans successfully complete their Grant and Per Diem (GPD) programs, many formerly homeless veterans still cannot afford fair market rents, nor will most of them qualify for mortgages even with the VA home loan guarantee. They are, essentially, still at risk of homelessness. With another 1.5 million veteran families living below the federal poverty level (2000 U.S. Census), this is an issue that requires immediate attention and proactive engagement.

Many homeless veterans receiving services today are aging and the percentage of women veterans seeking services is growing. Moreover, OIF and OEF combat veterans, both men and women, are returning home and suffering from war related conditions that may put them at risk for homelessness.    

Veterans who graduate from two-year GPD programs often need supportive services while they continue to build toward economic stability and social reintegration into mainstream society. Those who will need permanent supportive housing – the chronically mentally ill, those with functional disabilities, families impacted by poverty – may be served by the HUD-VASH program. But the majority of GPD graduates need access to affordable housing with some level of follow-up services for up to two to three years to ensure their success.

Many community-based organizations are already providing that kind of “bridge housing,” but resources for this purpose are scarce. At present, the VA cannot meet the range of housing and resource needs of currently homeless and at-risk returning veterans.  While the agency can provide homeless veterans with primary care and mental health services, along with transitional housing, it lacks the authority and funding to provide supportive services for the growing number of veterans who will need long-term affordable permanent housing. 

To meet these current and future needs, NCHV urges this Committee to support S. 2273, a measure that would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish several pilot programs that would provide grants to public and non-profit (including faith-based and community organizations) to provide local supportive services to very low-income, formerly homeless veterans residing in long-term or permanent housing. The programs would be conducted at former military properties or installations in addition to properties where permanent housing is provided to formerly homeless veterans.

Homeless and at-risk veterans need a community-based, coordinated effort that provides secure housing and nutritional meals; essential physical health care, substance abuse aftercare and mental health counseling; and personal development and empowerment. Veterans also need job assessment, training and placement assistance.  NCHV believes all programs to assist homeless and at risk veterans must focus on helping veterans reach the point where they can obtain and sustain employment and live independent lives in their community. Passage and implementation of S. 2273 would be a giant step towards helping these veterans have a higher chance of becoming productive citizens again.

In Summation:

NCHV believes it is now time to take the next step in the campaign to end veteran homelessness. Developing solutions that address the health and economic challenges of veterans who served in Viet Nam and other conflicts as well as OIF/OEF veterans – before they are threatened with homelessness – and provide the necessary funding and resources should be a national priority. Never before in U.S. history has this nation, during a time of war, concerned itself with preventing veteran homelessness. For all our collective accomplishments, this may yet be our finest moment.

back to top