Congressional Update
11,000 New Permanent Supportive Housing Vouchers for Veterans Signed into Law
On Nov. 18, 2011, President Barack Obama signed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, H.R. 2112, into law. The final compromise version of this “minibus” (or small omnibus) legislation met the President’s request of $75 million in new permanent supportive housing vouchers for chronically homeless veterans.
These HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers represent a collaboration between the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) to help veterans with serious mental illness and other disabilities obtain and maintain housing. Under the program, HUD issues housing vouchers and VA provides case management and health services for participating veterans.
The additional $75 million will bring the total number of HUD-VASH vouchers to about 49,000 – representing 80 percent of the administration’s initial target of 60,000 vouchers needed to end chronic veteran homelessness.
Throughout the year, the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) has worked closely with House and Senate committees of jurisdiction to ensure passage of these new vouchers. We deeply commend Congress and the executive branch’s commitment to the HUD-VASH Program.
For more information on the recently passed minibus bill, click here.
Remaining FY 2012 appropriations bills
The FY 2012 funding bill for the Department of Veterans Affairs has not yet been signed into law. The President’s FY 2012 budget proposal for homeless veteran programs, however, is expected to be met. This would include the following funding levels:
- $224 million for the Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program
- About $100 million for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program
- An additional $50 million for HUD-VASH case management services
Looking ahead: Recommendations for FY 2013
To read about NCHV’s recommendations for the President’s FY 2013 Budget, which will be released in a few months, click here.