Representative Levin Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Help End Homelessness Among Women Veterans and their Families
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Levin (D-CA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the Housing for Women Veterans Act, a bipartisan bill to help end homelessness among women veterans and their families. The bill would reauthorize funding for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grant program at $400 million for FY2020-FY2022, and require that at least $20 million goes to organizations that have a focus on helping women veterans and their families.
“Women servicemembers and their families have sacrificed for our country, and we must do everything we can to prevent them from falling into homelessness when they return to civilian life,” said Representative Levin. “This bipartisan bill is a critical step that will help end homelessness among our nation’s heroes and prioritize much-needed funding for women veterans and their families. As Chair of the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, I look forward to holding hearings on this bipartisan legislation soon.”
“No veteran should be homeless, and we must take every action possible to ensure we care for those who stepped up to serve our country,” said Representative Fitzpatrick. “This legislation will help address the needs of our women veterans and their families while also helping us identify areas we can improve services focused on helping homeless veterans. I’m proud to join Representative Levin to introduce this bipartisan measure because taking care of our veterans should never be a partisan issue.”
The Housing for Women Veterans Act would:
- Reauthorize funding for the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grant program at $400 million for FY2020-FY2022;
- Require that at least $20 million goes to organizations that have a focus on helping women veterans and their families;
- Require the VA to analyze shortfalls in its homelessness programs with respect to serving women and submit a report to Congress within 9 months of enactment.
The Housing for Women Veterans Act is supported by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Veterans (AMVETS). The legislation is also included in a bipartisan Senate bill, the Deborah Sampson Act.
As Chair of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Representative Levin has fought to ensure that veterans and their families receive high-quality education, job training, employment, and housing resources. This week, three bipartisan bills led by Levin to support veterans’ transition to civilian life, improve veterans’ economic resources, and expand veterans’ access to mental health services passed the House of Representatives.
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