Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives passage of the Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Act, legislation she authored that would direct the Department of Labor (DOL) to prioritize homeless veterans with dependent children within the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.
“On any given day, there are more than 550,000 people experiencing homelessness in our country – and an estimated 40,000 of them are veterans. This is unacceptable,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. “When our nation’s men and women return home after years of service to our nation, we owe it to them to spare no effort in providing the assistance they need to transition to civilian life, including access to affordable and permanent housing. The issue is all the more urgent when it comes to veterans with children.
“My bill prioritizes securing employment opportunities for homeless veterans with children and supporting critical resources for veterans to develop occupational skills, receive on-the-job training, attain apprenticeships, and help with job searches and placement. This assistance will provide veterans with the wrap-around services necessary to support their families – and lift them out of homelessness and on the path to self-sufficiency and success.
“This legislation has received broad bipartisan support in the past, and I applaud its swift passage in the House. I urge my Senate colleagues to help get it across the finish line. We owe our veterans nothing less.”
This Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Act would also require DOL to study access to shelter, safety, and other relevant services for homeless veterans with dependent children. The study will help identify the specific barriers and challenges that this subpopulation of veterans face and provide recommendations to address this issue with the urgency it demands.
Read the full text of the bill, here.
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Issues: 117th Congress, Veterans' Affairs