[Vision2020] Senate bill aims to help homeless female vets

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the Army Times at:

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/06/military-senate-bill-aims-to-help-homeless-female-veterans-061912w/

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Senate bill aims to help homeless female vets

The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairwoman unveiled a bill Monday aimed at helping homeless female veterans.

The Veterans Affairs Department and Obama administration have been making progress toward a goal of eliminating veterans’ homelessness within five years, with a 12 percent reduction in homeless veterans between 2010 and 2011.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the veterans’ committee chairwoman, said she is pleased by the progress, which has come largely through interagency efforts, but “the number of homeless women veterans has continued to increase.”

Part of the reason is the scarcity of housing options for women with children, she said — and often when housing is available, it is inadequate.

“Infrastructure needs such as private and secure rooms and showering facilities are often lacking,” she said.

As a result, women are placed “in uncomfortable and potentially unsafe situations,” she said. “We can and should do better.”

The bill Murray introduced Monday, S 3309, would provide community grants for transitional housing on the condition that it meets physical privacy, safety and security needs, providing legal services to help low-income veterans find permanent housing.

“No veteran should have to choose between housing and their safety or between housing and remaining with their family,” she said.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"If not us, who?
If not now, when?"

- Unknown


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