WASHINGTON — Addressing homelessness among veterans today and helping prevent vets from experiencing homelessness in the future: a new bill aims to fix an age-old problem.
Generally, the trajectory has been positive. The Department of Veterans Affairs reports that the estimated number of veterans experiencing homelessness in America has declined by 52% since 2010.
But last year, the annual Department of Housing and Urban Development "Point in Time" survey showed that the number of homeless veterans jumped by more than 7.4% in 2023. Researchers found that in one single night in January of that year, there were more than 35,000 unhoused veterans.
Clearly, more work needs to be done.
Last week, Sen. Tim Kaine (D, Virginia) announced his co-sponsorship of the "Housing for All Veterans Act," legislation that would guarantee access to a housing voucher for all veterans who need it and protect veteran families using a voucher from facing housing discrimination.
"This would really super-charge the programs we've put in place to battle veterans' homelessness by creating these voucher entitlements. We think it would go a long way towards ending -- not just reducing -- but ending veterans' homelessness," he said.
In an interview Tuesday with 13News Now, Kaine said he expects wide backing for the measure.
"I don't think this one is going to be a heavy lift. I think the case is so plain, I'll be able to get bipartisan support on it," he said.
So far, the Congressional Budget Office has not estimated a cost for this program.