OLR Bill Analysis
AN ACT CONCERNING HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS.
This bill requires the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) commissioner, within available appropriations, to establish and administer a program to reduce the number of homeless veterans or those at risk of homelessness by 5% each year, from FY 2010 to FY 2020. Veterans' spouses and widows are eligible for the program.
DECD must design the program to (1) provide veterans with emergency shelter and transitional housing services and (2) enable veterans to obtain and keep permanent housing and increase their job skills and income. The DECD commissioner must consult with the Social Services and Veterans' Affairs departments on program development and adopt regulations to implement it.
By October 1, 2010 and annually thereafter, the commissioner must submit an implementation progress report to the Housing Committee. Because the program ends in 2020, presumably the reports would also end in that year.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2009
VETERANS AND HOMELESSNESS
The bill specifies that:
1. “veteran” means any person honorably discharged or released under honorable conditions from active service in the armed forces and
2. “homeless or at risk of homelessness” means (a) living on the streets or in shelters, (b) coming out of homeless programs or transitional housing and having no permanent housing, (c) living in unsafe or abusive environments, (d) paying more than 50% of income for rent, (e) living in overcrowded conditions, or (f) needing supportive services in order to maintain permanent housing.
BACKGROUND
State Programs to Assist Veterans with Housing Needs
By law, an entity operating any DECD-funded low- or moderate-income rental housing project must give preference to veterans competing with other applicants when housing needs are substantially equal. DECD's Housing for the Homeless program provides financial assistance to help develop housing for very low-income people, for which certain veterans would be eligible. Additionally, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority provides low-interest 30-year mortgage loans to veterans under its Military Homeownership Program.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Housing Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea |
10 |
Nay |
0 |
(03/10/2009) |