Mace’s bipartisan bill improves federal homeless veterans program

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) on Feb. 9 introduced a bipartisan bill to improve how local case management services are provided to homeless veterans through a collaborative federal program.

Rep. Mace cosponsored the HUD VASH Case Manager Act, H.R. 6677, alongside bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA), which would amend federal law to modify the eligibility requirements for entities collaborating with the VA Secretary to provide case management services to homeless veterans under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program.

“This bill allows the VA the flexibility to hire local case managers,” said Rep. Mace. “We are always looking for ways to improve services for veterans, and this bill will help the VA to attract more qualified and experienced caseworkers, optimizing our programs for those who have served our country.” 

The HUD-VASH program’s website says that the program pairs HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance with VA case management and supportive services for homeless veterans. Such services help veterans and their families find and sustain permanent housing and access health care, mental health treatment, substance use counseling, and other supports to help them in their recovery process and with maintaining housing.

While successful, annual reports show that the HUD-VASH program faces challenges recruiting and retaining case managers, who are integral to running the program at maximum efficiency, according to information provided by Rep. Mace’s staff.

H.R. 6677 has been referred for consideration to both the U.S. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the U.S. House Financial Services Committee.