The House Passes Congressman Sherman’s Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – RealEstateRama – The House of Representatives passed Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Congresswoman De La Cruz’s (R-TX) bipartisan Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act (HUDVA), to get homeless disabled veterans into the VA housing built for them. This legislation would amend the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) definition of annual income to exclude disability payments received by a veteran for eligibility purposes for housing built under the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program.
Many disabled veterans – that needed that assistance most – were unable to access housing programs for veterans because of how income is defined. The more severe a disability is, the more disability benefits a veteran receives, and the less likely it was that they can access veterans housing assistance. But, because of the advocacy of Congressman Sherman and others, HUD decided to exclude disability benefits from income for eligibility purposes for HUD-VASH housing last year. Now it is time to enshrine that change in law.
“I am honored that the House has voted to pass this important bill to remove an unfair barrier preventing disabled homeless veterans from accessing veteran housing,” said Congressman Brad Sherman. “I urge the Senate to take up this common-sense and bipartisan bill without delay to exclude a veteran’s disability benefits from a veteran’s income calculation.”
Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz said: “Far too often, our veterans are met with unnecessary bureaucracy when they return home from service. Though we can never repay them for their sacrifice, we can show our gratitude by ensuring bureaucratic obstacles do not block their access to housing support. This legislation will make certain that disability payments received by a veteran are excluded from income calculations when it comes to determining eligibility for HUD-VASH. I am proud to co-lead this critical bipartisan legislation alongside Congressman Sherman to support veterans who have gone above and beyond to serve our country.”
Congressman Lieu said: “It was outrageous that disabled homeless veterans were penalized for receiving disability benefits and were unable to get housing. When HUD made the long overdue correction to their policy to no longer exclude veterans receiving disability benefits from HUD-VASH this summer, I joined housing and veterans advocates to support the change. Now, with this bill passage, we’re one step closer to codifying this change to ensure vulnerable veterans can access housing. I am grateful to Representative Brad Sherman and Ranking Member Mark Takano for their leadership on this issue.”
“This bill strengthens an important tool to combat veteran homelessness by expanding veterans’ access to affordable housing. For too long, veterans in need have been denied housing because their disability benefits put them over the income eligibility threshold,” said Rep. Mike Levin. “I’m grateful that the House was able to come together and pass this bipartisan legislation to fix a policy that creates roadblocks for unhoused veterans. This bill will ensure that disability benefits will never be held against our nation’s heroes who are seeking stable housing to lead a healthy and stable life.”
“For years, my colleagues and I have been working to ensure that veterans are not denied access to housing assistance programs due to disability benefits they receive for service-related injury or illness,” said Rep. Carbajal. “I’m proud to see Congress acting to codify that important distinction, after the Biden-Harris Administration acted to implement it last summer. Through legislation like this and my Home for the Brave Act, we will ensure once and for all that federal housing programs do not discriminate against our disabled veterans.”
“No Veteran who has served our country should ever have to choose between housing and their disability benefits,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “In partnership with mayors across our country and our champions in Congress, we secured significant policy changes at HUD and Treasury last fall to ensure Veterans received the housing and services that they deserve. I wholeheartedly thank our Congressional leaders for their bipartisan work to codify these changes and I look forward to seeing this critical fix pass in the Senate.”
National Commander of the American Legion James LaCoursiere Jr. said: “No veteran should be denied housing because of disability benefits they earned through military service. The Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act (H.R. 8340) is a vital, bipartisan step toward removing unfair barriers that keep disabled veterans from accessing stable housing. The American Legion applauds Rep. Sherman’s leadership on this issue, and we urge Congress to act now to ensure that disability compensation never stands in the way of a veteran having a place to call home.”
“Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) applauds House passage of the Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act,” said Jose Ramos, Vice President for Government and Community Relations for WWP. “Wounded warriors who were severely injured during service should not be prevented from utilizing the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program simply because they receive disability benefits. This bill will help ensure that veterans in need of housing assistance and support services remain eligible for this critical program. WWP is grateful for Rep. Sherman’s leadership on this issue, and we urge the Senate to take up and pass this important legislation.”
“Our veterans have selflessly served our country, and it is our duty to ensure they receive the support and resources they need to thrive after their service,” said Jack McManus, President of Vietnam Veterans of America. “H.R. 965 represents a significant step forward in addressing the urgent housing needs of disabled veterans, many of whom face tremendous challenges in securing safe and stable living conditions.By co-sponsoring H.R. 965, members of Congress are sending a clear message that they prioritize the well-being of our veterans. This bill is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together, across party lines, to support those who have given so much for our freedom. Our veterans deserve nothing less than our commitment to their dignity and welfare.”
“Homeless Veterans deserve housing. Period.” said Darryl Vincent, C.E.O. of Los Angeles-based U.S. VETS, and a partner in the Greater Los Angeles VA Medical Center housing project. “Bureaucratic barriers to entry need to be eliminated, and I am grateful that Congressman Sherman has championed this issue since day one. His tenacity has been incredible, and it will make a difference in the lives of veterans across the country.”
“As Chairman of the Black Veterans Empowerment Council, Inc., I am honored to work with Congressman Sherman [D-CA-32] and the 101 co-sponsors in supporting the passing of H.R. 965, the Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act. By codifying and amending outdated definitions that unfairly count disability benefits as income, this legislation will remove barriers preventing disabled veterans from qualifying for housing they need and deserve. This crucial step will help ensure that homeless veterans have access to safe, supportive homes on dedicated veteran lands. Taking care of those who have served is a responsibility we must always prioritize,” said Shawn L. Deadwiler, Chairman Black Veterans Empowerment Council.
“When our heroes return from serving our country, they deserve a safe and affordable home to call their own. No group more so than our disabled veterans, whose disability benefits should never be a barrier to permanent housing,” said Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum, CEO of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). “Representative Sherman and De La Cruz’s bill is the kind of innovative policy making we need to ensure local communities have all the tools necessary to get our veterans off the street.”
The HUD-VASH program plays a pivotal role in addressing homelessness among veterans by providing rental assistance from HUD along with supportive services from the VA. However, due to restrictive Area Median Income (AMI) caps and inclusion of disability benefits in a veteran’s annual income calculation, many homeless disabled veterans were unjustly disqualified from accessing this vital support. To address the root of the problem, the Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act (HUDVA) H.R. 965 will amend the existing law that defines income eligibility for veterans housing programs like HUD-VASH.
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