Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) on Friday would make former servicemembers eligible for Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rehousing incentive payments.
The Housing our Military Servicemembers (HOMeS) Act, H.R. 6124, which Stivers introduced with U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), would designate former servicemembers as a subpopulation eligible for HUD homelessness assistance that incentivizes and rewards housing grantees to help former military members find homes.
“Individuals who wore a uniform have been particularly vulnerable to homelessness in our communities, and Congress should do more to help address the problem,” Stivers said. “This bill will not solve the homelessness problem, but it is an important step in acknowledging the housing needs of all former servicemembers and toward rewarding housing grantees that aim to get these individuals off the streets. I am proud to take this step in finding homes for all of our nation’s former servicemembers.”
HUD provides “bonus” funding that can be used to make certain subpopulations find housing, and the measure would codify “former servicemember” as one of those subpopulations.
“No servicemember should ever find themselves living on the streets,” Beatty said. “Unfortunately, too many still do. While we have made progress in helping connect homeless servicemembers to resources to help get them back on their feet, we must do more. To that effect, I have joined with Congressman Stivers to do something about it. This bill will provide greater assurance to our nation’s homeless servicemembers that the federal government remains steadfast in its mission to ensure every servicemember has a place to call ‘Home Sweet Home.’”