Sen. Begich Praises Shinseki Pledge to End Veteran Homelessness

VA Secretary unveils plan at DC homeless summit

November 3, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Mark Begich today praised a plan released by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Erik Shinseki to end homelessness among veterans by marshalling the resources of the government, business and the private sector. According to the VA, the comprehensive plan includes preventive measures like discharge planning for incarcerated veterans re-entering society, supportive services for low-income veterans and their families, and a national referral center to link veterans to local service providers.

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"This is a great move by the VA to recognize the need to addresses homeless veterans and put it at the top of the priority list," said Sen. Begich, a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. "We owe it to the brave men and women who have served our country to do as much as we can so they don't end up down and destitute after their service ends."

Sec. Shinseki unveiled the five-year plan at the VA National Summit Ending Homelessness Among veterans in Washington, D.C., saying the aim is to get veterans off the streets but also prevent them from ever ending up homeless.

"President Obama and I are personally committed to ending homelessness among veterans within the next five years," Shinseki said. "Those who have served this nation as veterans should never find themselves on the streets, living without care and without hope."

The plan calls for expanded efforts for education, jobs, health care and housing including:

• The new Post-9/11 GI Bill provides a one-time option for qualified veterans to pursue a fully funded degree program at a state college or university.
• VA is collaborating with the Small Business Administration and the General Services Administration to certify veteran-owned small businesses and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses for listing on the Federal Supply Register, which enhances their visibility and competitiveness - creating jobs for veterans.
• VA will spend $3.2 billion next year to prevent and reduce homelessness among veterans. That includes $2.7 billion on medical services and more than $500 million on specific homeless programs.
• VA aggressively diagnoses and treats the unseen wounds of war that often lead to homelessness - severe isolation, dysfunctional behaviors, depression and substance abuse.
• VA partners with more than 600 community organizations to provide transitional housing to 20,000 veterans. It also works with 240 public housing authorities to provide permanent housing to homeless veterans and their families under a partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The partnership will provide permanent housing to more than 20,000 veterans and their families.

Sen. Begich has co-sponsored several pieces of legislation to address the issue of homeless veterans including:

• S.252 Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009
• S.1160 Homes for Heroes Act of 2009
• S.1366 A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their income tax payment to provide assistance to homeless veterans
• S.1523 Services for Ending Long-Term Homelessness Act
• S.1547 Zero Tolerance for Veterans Homelessness Act of 2009

According to a 2009 study by the UAA Justice Center, there are more than 600 homeless veterans statewide in Alaska.

Source: Senator Mark Begich