{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.menendez.senate.gov/news-and-events/press/menendez-calls-on-va-to-renew-commitment-to-fight-veterans-homelessness-", "Menendez Calls on VA to Renew Commitment to Fight Veterans Homelessness", "2017-12-07", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Robert Menendez", "M000639", "www.menendez.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Menendez Calls on VA to Renew Commitment to Fight Veterans Homelessness  \n\t\t\t\n\t Menendez Calls on VA to Renew Commitment to Fight Veterans Homelessness  \n\t\n\t\t Senator: Maintaining funding to VA supportive housing voucher program \u2018is the right thing to do\u2019 \n\t\n\t\n\tThursday, December 7, 2017\n\t\n\t\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\u00a0 \u2014 U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the ranking member of the Senate\u2019s Housing Subcommittee, today urged Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin to commit that the Department will not abandon longstanding and effective efforts to address homelessness among veterans.\u00a0 Yesterday, press reports revealed that the VA planned to divert $460 million in funding from the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) voucher program.\r\n \r\n\u201cThe Administration\u2019s ill-conceived announcement is a cruel departure from longstanding departmental policy that leaves veterans on unstable ground,\u201d Sen. Menendez wrote in a letter to Sec. Shulkin.\u00a0\u201cAlthough the Department attempted an about-face last night in the wake of public outcry, significant questions remain about this Administration\u2019s commitment to housing homeless veterans.\u201d\u00a0\r\n \r\nThe Senator noted HUD-VASH\u2019s proven track record of effectively pairing HUD rental assistance with case management and clinical services provided by the VA, which has contributed to a nearly 50 percent decline in veteran homelessness since 2010, along with the effective end of veteran homelessness in Bergen County, New Jersey in August 2016, and reiterated the VA\u2019s obligations.\r\n \r\n\u201cIf such a diversion or reallocation of funds limits the case management and supportive services such that veterans assigned vouchers do not receive appropriate services, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may not be in compliance with statutory requirements,\u201d the letter continued.\u00a0 \u201cAs such, I request a clear and unequivocal commitment that the Department of Veterans Affairs will continue providing funding in the amounts and for the purposes instructed by Congress for HUD-VASH case management and supportive services.\u201d\r\n \r\nSen. Menendez argued that veteran homelessness remains a critical issue, including in his home state of New Jersey, where recently released U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Affairs\u2019 (HUD) 2017 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress revealed that the rate of homelessness among veterans has jumped 4.8 percent since last year.\r\nThe full text of the letter is below and available here.\r\n\u00a0\r\nDecember 7, 2017\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe Honorable David J. Shulkin\r\nSecretary\r\nU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs\r\n810 Vermont Avenue, NW\r\nWashington, D.C. 20420\r\n\u00a0\r\nDear Secretary Shulkin,\r\nAs the Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development, I write to express serious concerns over plans revealed yesterday to divert $460 million in funding from the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) voucher program.\u00a0 The Administration\u2019s ill-conceived announcement is a cruel departure from longstanding departmental policy that leaves veterans on unstable ground.\u00a0 Although the Department attempted an about-face last night in the wake of public outcry, significant questions remain about this Administration\u2019s commitment to housing homeless veterans.\u00a0 As such, I request a clear and unequivocal commitment that the Department of Veterans Affairs will continue providing funding in the amounts and for the purposes instructed by Congress for HUD-VASH case management and supportive services.\u00a0 In addition, please provide detailed information on how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) plans to meet its statutory obligations to ensure funding for case management and supportive services for veterans that receive HUD-VASH vouchers in fiscal years 2018 and 2019.\r\nHUD-VASH has a proven track record of effectively pairing HUD rental assistance with case management and clinical services provided by the VA.\u00a0 In fact, the successful funding and implementation of the HUD-VASH program contributed to a nearly fifty percent decline in veteran homelessness from 2010 to 2016, along with the effective end of veteran homelessness in Bergen County, New Jersey in August 2016.[1]\u00a0 A study released last month by the Department of Housing and Urban Development confirms the success of the program.[2]\u00a0 However, soaring rents across the country present persistent challenges to veterans\u2019 ability to secure stable and affordable housing.\u00a0 As the HUD-VASH program demonstrates, identifying innovative and effective solutions for the most challenging housing needs requires a coordinated strategy and shared objectives among various federal, state, and local agencies.\u00a0 This is especially critical in light of the recently released HUD 2017 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress.\u00a0 The AHAR reports that New Jersey has seen an increase of 4.8 percent of homeless veterans from last year alone.[3]\r\nAs you know, Section 5(a)(1) of the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001 requires the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that every veteran who is provided a housing voucher through the HUD-VASH program is assigned to, and is seen as needed by, a case manager.[4]\u00a0 If such a diversion or reallocation of funds limits the case management and supportive services such that veterans assigned vouchers do not receive appropriate services, the VA may not be in compliance with statutory requirements.\u00a0 However, it is my hope that you will continue funding case management and supportive services for veterans provided housing vouchers at the appropriate levels not only because it is a statutory mandate, but because it is the right thing to do for our veterans.\r\nPlease provide a response no later than December 18, 2017.\r\n\r\nSincerely,\r\n\r\nROBERT MENENDEZ\r\nUnited States Senator\u00a0\u00a0\r\n###\r\n    \r\n\r\n[1] https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/29697/federal-agencies-announce-veteran-veteran-homelessness-cut-nearly-half-down-47-percent-since-2010-cut-more-than-half-since-2010/; http://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2016/08/why_125_homeless_nj_veterans_now_have_a_place_to_live.html.\r\n\r\n\r\n[2] https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/HUD-VASH-Exit-Study.pdf.\r\n\r\n\r\n[3] https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/2017-AHAR-Part-1.pdf.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.menendez.senate.gov/news-and-events/press/menendez-calls-on-va-to-renew-commitment-to-fight-veterans-homelessness-"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6075223684310913, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}