Posted on Jul 29, 2021
Senate committee advances bill to help homeless veterans as national eviction moratorium is set...
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https://www.stripes.com/veterans/2021-07-28/homeless-veterans-legislation-eviction-moratorium-coronavirus-pandemic-2346395.html?utm_source=Stars+and+Stripes+Emails&utm_campaign= [login to see] -Newsletter+-+Coronavirus+Update&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0ab8697a7f [login to see] -296629788
With the nationwide moratorium on evictions set to end this week, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs advanced a bill Wednesday that would make permanent the increased assistance given during the coronavirus pandemic to combat veteran homelessness.
The Building Solutions for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness Act of 2021 would extend indefinitely the extra resources and flexibility given during the pandemic to the federal, state and local agencies that provide services to homeless veterans. Advocates have warned the expiration of these resources could create an “unprecedented wave” of veteran homelessness.
Advocates for homeless veterans have said they also feared the end of the federal protections keeping landlords from evicting tenants. The moratorium ends Saturday.
In June, Kathryn Monet, CEO of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, a nonprofit focused on ending veteran homelessness, urged lawmakers to extend the protections for tenants.
“I don’t think the economy has recovered to a point where people are able to cover all of these expenses or have all gone back to work,” Monet said at the time. “I think that’s a huge problem.”
One of the actions that Congress took at the start of the pandemic was to increase the maximum rates for the VA’s grant and per diem program. The money went to shelters, which get paid for filling beds but were unable to house as many veterans in order to abide by social distancing guidelines.
With the nationwide moratorium on evictions set to end this week, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs advanced a bill Wednesday that would make permanent the increased assistance given during the coronavirus pandemic to combat veteran homelessness.
The Building Solutions for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness Act of 2021 would extend indefinitely the extra resources and flexibility given during the pandemic to the federal, state and local agencies that provide services to homeless veterans. Advocates have warned the expiration of these resources could create an “unprecedented wave” of veteran homelessness.
Advocates for homeless veterans have said they also feared the end of the federal protections keeping landlords from evicting tenants. The moratorium ends Saturday.
In June, Kathryn Monet, CEO of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, a nonprofit focused on ending veteran homelessness, urged lawmakers to extend the protections for tenants.
“I don’t think the economy has recovered to a point where people are able to cover all of these expenses or have all gone back to work,” Monet said at the time. “I think that’s a huge problem.”
One of the actions that Congress took at the start of the pandemic was to increase the maximum rates for the VA’s grant and per diem program. The money went to shelters, which get paid for filling beds but were unable to house as many veterans in order to abide by social distancing guidelines.
Senate committee advances bill to help homeless veterans as national eviction moratorium is set...
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2021 National Coalition for Homeless Veterans Annual Conference (Virtual)
VA Secretary Denis McDonough: 2021 National Coalition for Homeless Veterans Annual Conference (Virtual)
Thank you my friend Lt Col Charlie Brown for making us aware that the bill introduced by senator Tester on June 22, 2021 has been advanced out of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
Background from {[veterans.senate.gov/newsroom/majority-news/tester-rolls-out-comprehensive-bill-to-permanently-expand-pandemic-support-to-homeless-veterans]}
Chairman’s Building Solutions for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness Act to cut red tape on resources to support unhoused veterans post-pandemic
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
(U.S. Senate) – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester is introducing legislation today to make permanent critical pandemic-relief resources that have become essential to providing the most effective care and support to unhoused veterans and their families. This legislation will be considered tomorrow during a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing.
The Chairman’s Building Solutions for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness Act of 2021 would permanently cut red tape on grants provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for organizations assisting veterans experiencing homelessness—extending provisions under Tester’s Grant Regulation Adjustment during the Coronavirus Emergency for Homeless Veterans (GRACE) Act of 2020. This bill would also ensure that organizations have the necessary funding to continue supporting veterans and avoid derailing their pre-pandemic progress toward effectively ending veteran homelessness. And it would expand veterans’ access to critical resources to help them get quickly back on their feet, including increased access to transportation, case management services, job training benefits, and improved transitional housing for aging veterans.
“While the country is turning a corner in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve still got a long ways to go in tackling veteran homelessness,” said Chairman Tester. “That’s why I’m introducing legislation to keep pandemic-related safety nets in place that have become an essential lifeline in connecting more veterans with permanent and affordable housing through VA. This bill builds on our recent efforts to aggressively combat veteran homelessness, bringing us one step closer to ensuring every person who’s served this country has a safe place to call home.”
Here is VA Secretary Denis McDonough advocating for homeless veteran assistance at the 2021 National Coalition for Homeless Veterans Annual Conference (Virtual)
2021 National Coalition for Homeless Veterans Annual Conference (Virtual)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqN_90touzI
FYI MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. LTC (Join to see) COL Mikel J. Burroughs SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SSG Franklin BriantSPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D TSgt David L. SGT James Murphy 1SG Steven ImermanSPC Michael Terrell SPC Michael Oles SRSgt (Join to see) PO3 Phyllis Maynard SSG Samuel Kermon MGySgt (Join to see)SPC Steve Irvine1LT Voyle Smith GySgt Jack Wallace
Background from {[veterans.senate.gov/newsroom/majority-news/tester-rolls-out-comprehensive-bill-to-permanently-expand-pandemic-support-to-homeless-veterans]}
Chairman’s Building Solutions for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness Act to cut red tape on resources to support unhoused veterans post-pandemic
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
(U.S. Senate) – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester is introducing legislation today to make permanent critical pandemic-relief resources that have become essential to providing the most effective care and support to unhoused veterans and their families. This legislation will be considered tomorrow during a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing.
The Chairman’s Building Solutions for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness Act of 2021 would permanently cut red tape on grants provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for organizations assisting veterans experiencing homelessness—extending provisions under Tester’s Grant Regulation Adjustment during the Coronavirus Emergency for Homeless Veterans (GRACE) Act of 2020. This bill would also ensure that organizations have the necessary funding to continue supporting veterans and avoid derailing their pre-pandemic progress toward effectively ending veteran homelessness. And it would expand veterans’ access to critical resources to help them get quickly back on their feet, including increased access to transportation, case management services, job training benefits, and improved transitional housing for aging veterans.
“While the country is turning a corner in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve still got a long ways to go in tackling veteran homelessness,” said Chairman Tester. “That’s why I’m introducing legislation to keep pandemic-related safety nets in place that have become an essential lifeline in connecting more veterans with permanent and affordable housing through VA. This bill builds on our recent efforts to aggressively combat veteran homelessness, bringing us one step closer to ensuring every person who’s served this country has a safe place to call home.”
Here is VA Secretary Denis McDonough advocating for homeless veteran assistance at the 2021 National Coalition for Homeless Veterans Annual Conference (Virtual)
2021 National Coalition for Homeless Veterans Annual Conference (Virtual)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqN_90touzI
FYI MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. LTC (Join to see) COL Mikel J. Burroughs SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SSG Franklin BriantSPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D TSgt David L. SGT James Murphy 1SG Steven ImermanSPC Michael Terrell SPC Michael Oles SRSgt (Join to see) PO3 Phyllis Maynard SSG Samuel Kermon MGySgt (Join to see)SPC Steve Irvine1LT Voyle Smith GySgt Jack Wallace
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LTC Stephen F.
Tester Urges Colleagues to Pass Targeted COVID-19 Relief Plan to Protect and Support Veterans
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc-6jJV98mA
FYI PO3 Charles StreichSP5 Geoffrey VannersonGySgt Thomas VickSFC Bernard WalkoSFC (Join to see)CPL Cadrew StricklandSSG Michael Noll SGT Steve McFarland SFC Chuck Martinez MSgt James Clark-Rosa SSG William Jones] A1C Riley Sanders SGT Charlie LeeSMSgt Mark Venezio Lt Col Charlie Brown SFC Ralph E Kelley LTC John Shaw SSgt Kelly D. SSgt Marian Mitchell SPC Margaret Higgins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc-6jJV98mA
FYI PO3 Charles StreichSP5 Geoffrey VannersonGySgt Thomas VickSFC Bernard WalkoSFC (Join to see)CPL Cadrew StricklandSSG Michael Noll SGT Steve McFarland SFC Chuck Martinez MSgt James Clark-Rosa SSG William Jones] A1C Riley Sanders SGT Charlie LeeSMSgt Mark Venezio Lt Col Charlie Brown SFC Ralph E Kelley LTC John Shaw SSgt Kelly D. SSgt Marian Mitchell SPC Margaret Higgins
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