U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) this month sponsored bipartisan legislation aimed at ensuring support for the dependents of United States military veterans who are homeless.
“We have a duty to help veterans struggling with homelessness and that includes ensuring their children are never left in the cold,” Sen. Gardner said on Jan. 25. “Our brave men and women who fought for our country deserve reforms to ensure their children have access to proper care.”
The Creating A Reliable Environment (CARE) for Veterans’ Dependents Act of 2019, S. 91, would amend the United States Code to authorize per diem payments under comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans to furnish care to dependents of homeless veterans, among other purposes, according to the text of the proposed bill.
Sen. Gardner’s lead original cosponsor of S. 91 is U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), who joined him in introducing the bill on Jan. 10 along with cosponsor U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO).
Currently, VA grants and per diem programs don’t reimburse VA facilities for care given to the dependents of homeless veterans. In 2017, roughly 2,500 children of homeless veterans received care through a variety of VA-funded facilities, according to last week’s statement from Sen. Gardner.
One such facility is the Aurora, Colo.-based Comitis Crisis Center, which provides care services for veterans’ dependents, but doesn’t get reimbursed.
James Gillespie, the community impact and government relations liaison at the Comitis Crisis Center, thanked the senators for supporting S. 91.
“Those who have fought for our homeland should never be without a safe place to call home. This includes their dependents,” Gillespie said. “As service members, they fought for our families and this bill will fight for theirs!”
“Veterans in need of housing support who have kids should have assurance that their families will be supported,” added Sen. Bennet. “By reimbursing the facilities that so rightly provide support to these children, we can encourage more holistic care.”
S. 91 has been referred to the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee for consideration.