Bill Overview
Title: Protect Veteran Students, Job Seekers, and Entrepreneurs Housing Act
Description: This bill amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to treat educational assistance received by a servicemember (or an entitled spouse or child of a servicemember) as income for purposes of determining whether such an individual has a sufficient income to enter into a lease of a residential premises.
Sponsors: Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]
Target Audience
Population: Veteran students, job seekers, and entrepreneurs and their families
Estimated Size: 2000000
- The bill affects veteran students, job seekers, and entrepreneurs.
- The bill specifically amends the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
- The bill is focused on how educational assistance is treated as income.
- It pertains to servicemembers and their families who are involved in education, job seeking, or entrepreneurship.
- Educational assistance is a common benefit among veterans in both the U.S. and allied countries.
- The global veteran population is substantial, but specific data on those engaged in education, job-seeking, or entrepreneurship is needed.
- In 2021, there were nearly 150 million veterans worldwide with a significant portion being U.S. veterans.
Reasoning
- The policy targets veteran students, job seekers, and entrepreneurs, suggesting an impact on younger to mid-career veterans who are often in transition.
- Given the budget and the specific objectives, it is likely designed to benefit a relatively small segment of the veteran population, though significant enough to impact those engaging in higher education and entrepreneurial activities.
- Veterans more likely to feel the policy's impact will be those in transitional life stages—such as recent graduates seeking housing or veterans starting businesses—who rely heavily on educational assistance.
- Considering the Cantril ladder scale (0-10), wellbeing changes may not be drastic given budget constraints, but meaningful for those aided by improved housing access.
- The policy acknowledges educational assistance as income, therefore it affects veterans who rely on these benefits to qualify for better housing options.
Simulated Interviews
Engineering Student (Austin, Texas)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The recognition of my GI Bill benefits as income could make it easier for me to lease a better apartment.
- This change would decrease my stress about housing instability while in school.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Entrepreneur (San Diego, California)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy won't change much for me since I'm not reliant on educational benefits.
- My business has already secured funding independently of my veteran benefits.
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 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Job Seeker (Columbus, Ohio)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful that my educational benefits being recognized as income will make finding housing easier.
- This would definitely take a load off my shoulders while I hunt for a job.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Part-time worker (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My spouse's educational benefits have already been important to us.
- If these benefits were counted as income, it could help us secure better housing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Freelance Writer (New York City, New York)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy doesn't directly benefit me since I don't use educational assistance.
- However, it could help younger veterans I mentor.
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 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
PhD Candidate (Denver, Colorado)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Counting my benefits as income would definitely help me get stable housing during my studies.
- I'm struggling to make ends meet, so this would alleviate a lot of stress.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Restaurant Manager (Miami, Florida)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This doesn't impact me directly as I'm not in education or using benefits.
- It's possibly useful for others in transition phases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Undergraduate Student (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Incorporating my benefits as income makes housing more accessible to me and my family.
- This change could make student life significantly better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Charleston, South Carolina)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm retired and settled, so this policy doesn't affect me.
- I hope it aids younger veterans who might benefit from such support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Software Developer (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If educational assistance can be considered for housing, that's a win for many veterans in tech.
- My career transition was smoother thanks to educational support, this policy would help others like me gain stability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2000000 (Low: $500000, High: $3000000)
Year 2: $2000000 (Low: $500000, High: $3000000)
Year 3: $2000000 (Low: $500000, High: $3000000)
Year 5: $2000000 (Low: $500000, High: $3000000)
Year 10: $2000000 (Low: $500000, High: $3000000)
Year 100: $2000000 (Low: $500000, High: $3000000)
Key Considerations
- The bill relies on existing educational benefit frameworks.
- Effectiveness depends on acceptance by landlords and understanding by servicemembers.
- Potential influence could fluctuate with changes in the housing market and economic conditions.