Rep. Cisneros Legislation to Assist Homeless Veterans Passes the House on Bipartisan Basis

The Homeless Veteran Families Act helps ensure homeless veterans with children receive the supportive services they deserve

WASHINGTON, DC –  Today, Representative Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (CA-39) released the following statement after his co-sponsored legislation, the Homeless Veteran Families Act, passed the House of Representatives on a bipartisan basis, 408-0. The Homeless Veteran Families Act would create additional funding to ensure housing agencies are able to shelter and provide services to veterans with dependent children.

“No veteran should be without a home, and it is unacceptable that veteran homelessness continues to persist,” said Rep. Cisneros. “We owe it to our veterans to provide safe, comfortable, and affordable housing solutions so they can live in dignity and comfort. This is especially true for our veterans with children, and I’m thankful the House was able to come together to help get our veterans and their families off the streets and transitioned back into our communities.”

The Veterans Affairs Department's (VA) Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program provides funding to community housing agencies that provide supportive services to homeless veterans. While the GPD program helps veterans achieve stable housing and gain the skills and job training they need to succeed in the modern workforce, it is limited in its ability to take on the costs associated with sheltering dependent children of homeless veterans. The Homeless Veteran Families Act would authorize VA to pay a partial per diem to GPD providers supporting our nation’s homeless veterans with children. 

Rep. Cisneros is a Navy veteran and serves on the House Veterans Affairs Committee and House Armed Services Committee. Rep. Cisneros is also a cosponsor of the Legal Services for Homeless Veterans Act to provide grants to organizations that provide legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness. He also testified at Member Day in the House Appropriations Committee to urge for more HUD-VASH funding to help end veteran homelessness.