Sec. 2. Congressional findings

178 words·~1 min read·/bill/115/hr/7022/ih/section-2

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

The Congress finds the following: The Departments of Housing and Urban Development

(HUD)and Veterans Affairs

(VA)jointly support veterans experiencing homelessness by providing permanent supportive housing. The HUD–VA Supportive Housing voucher program (HUD–VASH) has successfully decreased the number of homeless veterans. Since the establishment of the HUD–VASH voucher program in 2008, more than 93,000 vouchers have been awarded to public housing agencies and more than 160,000 homeless veterans have been provided with vouchers. The number of veterans experiencing homelessness has declined by over 30,000 since 2009, according to data from the annual Point-in-Time Homeless Count organized by HUD. Under the HUD–VASH program, veterans benefit from affordable housing and matching supportive services, such as mental health treatment, substance use counseling, and employment training. In the past year, some regions of the Nation have seen an increase in the numbers of veterans experiencing homelessness, particularly in high-cost housing markets where housing is becoming less affordable. HUD and VA allocate vouchers under the HUD–VASH program based on need, but do not disclose the formula that determines the allocation of vouchers.