WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the House of Representatives adopted two of Representative Scott Peters’ (CA-50) bipartisan amendments to the Fiscal Year 2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. These amendments support the critical Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) voucher program and the Department of Veterans Affairs Low-Income Veterans and Families (SSVF) Shallow Subsidy Program.

Last year, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that nearly 35 percent of HUD-VASH vouchers available to the county went unused. In response, Rep. Peters inquired with the VA San Diego Health Care System about what was leading to this problem. Rep. Peters’ first amendment, based on lessons learned from VA San Diego’s work, encourages local VA systems and public housing authorities to work together to streamline the voucher application process for HUD-VASH vouchers to reduce barriers for veterans seeking housing assistance.

During his remarks on the House Floor in support of his amendments, Rep. Peters stated, “All veterans deserve a roof over their heads. Far too many veterans in San Diego remain homeless or housing insecure and we must do more to ensure our veterans and their families have access to quality, affordable housing.”

The overall bill provides $3.2 billion for Veterans Affairs Homeless Assistance Programs, including HUD-VASH and SSVF. These programs are critical for the San Diego region, which recently reported over 850 homeless veterans in the 2024 Point-in-Time Count.  

Rep. Peters’ amendments were cosponsored by Representatives Mike Levin (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and James Moylan (R-GU).

Rep. Peters’ full remarks as prepared for delivery are below and can be viewed here.

                Mr. Speaker,

All veterans deserve a roof over their heads. Far too many veterans in San Diego remain homeless or housing insecure and we must do more to ensure our veterans and their families have access to quality, affordable housing. The Housing and Urban Development-Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing—known as HUD-VASH—program is a critical tool to address this issue.

Earlier this year, local news in San Diego reported that nearly 35 percent of HUD-VASH vouchers which San Diego County received went unused. This is unacceptable. We must do everything we can to ensure veterans are receiving this assistance.  

This bipartisan amendment simply encourages local VA systems and public housing authorities to work together to streamline the voucher application process for HUD-VASH vouchers to reduce barriers for veterans seeking housing assistance. VA San Diego is now taking initiative by partnering with local housing authorities to better align voucher applications across public housing authority jurisdiction. This partnership provides a critical pathway to connect veterans to housing.

The HUD-VASH program is critical for addressing veteran homelessness in San Diego and throughout the country. I urge all my colleagues to vote yes on this commonsense amendment.

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Mr. Speaker, 

VA’s Supportive Services for Low Income Veterans and Families Shallow Subsidy Program provides low-income Veterans direct assistance to prevent the imminent loss of a Veteran's home or identify a new, more suitable housing situation for them and their families. 

Funding for this program goes to every community across the country, and in Fiscal Year 2024 alone, San Diego organizations received over $17 million to provide these services. 

My bipartisan amendment recognizes the important role this program plays in preventing housing insecure veterans from falling into homelessness. It is essential that we preserve and show strong support for this program and for those who have put on the uniform in defense of our country. Keeping these veterans in their homes not only preserves their safety and security, it also preserves their dignity. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this amendment. 

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