Rep. Zeldin Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Permanently Extend Housing Grant Program for Low-Income Veterans

Statement

Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) introduced the Supporting Veteran Families in Need Act (H.R. 1750), co-sponsored by Representatives Tom Suozzi (D, NY-3) and Elise Stefanik (R, NY-21) to make permanent the Supportive Services Veteran Families (SSVF) program, which provides grants to nonprofit groups and consumer cooperatives that aid veterans with services like case management, helps obtain and coordinate benefits, and provides temporary financial assistance. Currently, this grant program is required to be reauthorized every 5 years and is slated to expired this fall.

The Supporting Veteran Families in Need Act has earned the endorsement of the American Legion, NYC Veterans Alliance, Military-Veterans Advocacy, Blinded Veterans Association, Military Order of the Purple Heart, American Ex-Prisoners of War Organization, National Coalition for Homeless Veterans and Catholic War Veterans.

"The SSVF program is fundamental to our efforts to end veteran homelessness as it enables organizations across the country to provide shelter and essential services to members of the veteran community in need," said Congressman Zeldin. "Extending these grants affirms our commitment to ending veteran homelessness across the country and preserves the important programs that so many of our veterans rely upon. Ensuring our homeless veterans have shelter and a safe place to live should never be a partisan issue."

CEO of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) Kathryn Monet said, "The SSVF program has been instrumental in the huge decrease in veteran homelessness that we have seen since 2010. Its nation-wide footprint combined with its flexibility means that each grant operates in the most effective way for the city or state it serves. We fully support permanently authorizing the SSVF program, and thank Representative Zeldin for his continued advocacy for homeless veterans in his district and across the country."

Director of Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency Tom Ronayne said, "SSVF has enabled countless veterans to either remain in familiar living environments or provide them with opportunities to get into a safer, more secure and stable living environment. The ripple effect of this is that veterans and their family members remain employed or become more employable. We are very concerned that SSVF remains in place, especially here in Suffolk County where we have one of the largest veteran populations in the country. I wholeheartedly support Congressman Zeldin's efforts to permanently secure it."

Source