Meuser Introduces Legislation to Expand Housing Assistance for Homeless Veterans

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09) recently announced the introduction of H.R. 10168, the Veterans Housing Opportunity Act, legislation that would increase the availability of housing assistance to veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Specifically, the legislation would establish a five-year pilot program at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to identify underutilized HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) rental assistance funding and relocate it to areas where it can better serve veterans. By redirecting unused housing assistance to areas with greater demand, the legislation will help more veterans access stable housing using existing federal resources.

The HUD-VASH program combines HUD rental assistance with VA case management and supportive services to help veterans experiencing homelessness obtain and maintain stable housing. While the program serves tens of thousands of veterans every year, its effectiveness is limited because HUD cannot reallocate unused vouchers to towns and cities with greater concentrations of homeless veterans. The Veterans Housing Opportunity Act addresses this issue by allowing HUD to redirect underutilized vouchers to communities where the need for veteran housing assistance is greatest.

Congressman Meuser worked with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in drafting this legislation. Tunnel to Towers is a national nonprofit whose mission is to provide more housing opportunities to veterans, first responders, Gold Star families, and families of fallen first responders with young children.

In addition to collaborating with HUD and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on the HUD-VASH program, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation also operates the Veterans Villages program, which aims to create comprehensive residential communities to house veterans and eradicate veteran homelessness. Earlier this week, Congressman Meuser attended the Tunnel to Towers Steel Across America Event at the White House, where steel from the devastation at Ground Zero was displayed.

"No veteran who has proudly served our country should be without a safe and stable home," said Congressman Meuser. "The Veterans Housing Opportunity Act will help ensure that HUD has the flexibility and ability to direct housing assistance and supportive services to the communities across the country where veterans need it most."

The full text of the legislation is available here.