Bill Overview
Title: Preventing Homelessness for Veteran Families Act
Description: This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 the Supportive Services for Veterans Families program, which provides financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing or transitioning from homelessness.
Sponsors: Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]
Target Audience
Population: Very low-income veteran families
Estimated Size: 500000
- The bill is focused on veteran families who are either facing homelessness or transitioning from a state of homelessness to permanent housing, and specifically those who are classified as very low-income.
- The Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) program is a U.S.-based initiative, meaning its direct impact is on veterans within the United States.
- There is a significant proportion of veterans in the U.S., many of whom face the risk of homelessness based on socioeconomic factors such as unemployment, mental health issues, and lack of support systems.
Reasoning
- The policy is aimed specifically at veteran families who are low-income and either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
- The $600 million budget for year one should prioritize those most in need, potentially serving thousands of veteran families a year.
- With 18 million veterans in the U.S. and approximately 11% below the poverty line, the targeted population is significant but focused on those in dire need.
- The policy's duration is set for 10 years, with funding increasing to $2.1 billion; hence, the long-term effects should show more substantial changes in well-being.
- Non-impacted persons included in the analysis help assess broader perceptions about the policy's relevance.
Simulated Interviews
Unemployed veteran (Dallas, TX)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This program could help my family finally find stability.
- We have been moving from shelter to shelter; this gives us hope.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Part-time retail worker (Seattle, WA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We could finally move into our own place and give our child a stable home life.
- I hope this also includes help with job training for my husband.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Maintenance worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I might not qualify but it's good to see support for my fellow vets.
- Hope they expand this to offer more stability options.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Social worker (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 58 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's essential to continue these kinds of programs.
- Long-term impact depends on consistent funding and management.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Construction worker (Boston, MA)
Age: 44 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could mean the difference between getting back on my feet or being stuck in a shelter.
- Assistance can't come soon enough.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 1 |
Student (Houston, TX)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It seems like this would help my parents a lot.
- I'm worried about how they measure who gets the help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Retired veteran (Denver, CO)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a good way to support new veterans but doesn’t apply to retirees like me.
- I'm just glad to see updated policies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Veteran currently job hunting (Miami, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This gives me some peace of mind about housing as we grow our family.
- I hope it's easy to apply for this support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Nurse (New York, NY)
Age: 51 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This financial support could greatly reduce our stress.
- We need more comprehensive solutions though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Veteran working part-time in security (San Diego, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This assistance could help us secure a down payment.
- Balancing bills is a constant worry for us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $600000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $700000000)
Year 2: $600000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $700000000)
Year 3: $600000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $700000000)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The veteran population is a high-priority group for federal support, often ensuring robust funding for veteran-focused initiatives.
- Unlike indefinite reauthorization, a fixed extension through FY2024 entails careful budget management and potential reevaluation thereafter.
- The potential for bipartisan support can influence funding and implementation of the program given its focus on veterans.