May 09, 2023

Ranking Member Takano Sounds Alarm on Veteran Homelessness Authorities Ending

Republicans voted down amendment to extend authorities during April 28th Markup

Press Contact

Libby Carlson

WASHINGTON, DC – Today House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) is sounding the alarm that authorities that have been helping homeless veterans for the last two years will expire on Thursday, May 11th. These authorities, created during the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency, have helped thousands of veterans get housed and access services. 

“Ending homelessness and food insecurity have been top priorities for the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and I am very concerned that the expiring authorities will put us back to where we were three years ago: maintaining the status quo with fewer effective tools,” said Ranking Member Takano. “The pandemic and the Public Health Emergency gave VA the flexibility to try innovative tools to end veteran homelessness. We need to end veteran homelessness and we now know what tools are effective. Even one homeless veteran is one too many.” 

During the April 28th full Committee Markup, Ranking Member Takano introduced an amendment that included language from Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick's (FL-20) bill H.R. 645, the Healthy Foundations for Homeless Veterans Act. Republicans voted against the amendment on a party-line vote, all but guaranteeing that these authorities will expire on May 11th. Committee Democrats have also urged consideration and passage of Congresswoman Nikema Williams’ (GA-05) H.R. 491, the Return Home to Housing Act. Without passage of this important legislation, the maximum rate at which community providers can be reimbursed for care for veterans residing in transitional housing will drop to $64 a day. H.R. 491 increases this rate to up to $112.20 a day, to more adequately reflect the cost of the care, resources, and services our homeless veterans deserve and need on their journey to permanent housing.

Throughout the pandemic, VA actually reduced veteran homelessness by 11% and housed over 40,000 veterans. That success can be directly attributed to these flexibilities that are set to expire. Failure to extend this authority would claw back the critical gains made to help and house homeless veterans, and veterans in need will spend more time without a place to call home if action is not taken this week.