Newton, NJ – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced legislation to expand the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, which promotes housing stability among very low-income veteran families who reside in or are transitioning to permanent housing. The Supportive Services for Reserve Component Veterans and Families Act would expand SSVF eligibility to former members of the National Guard and Reserves who have retired or separated from service after having served a term of enlistment.
Established in 2011, the SSVF program has helped decrease veteran homelessness by 50% and assisted 850,000 veterans and their family members by permanently housing, rapidly rehousing, or preventing them from becoming homeless. However, under the program’s current guidelines, many former members of the National Guard and Reserve Component, who were not activated for federal active duty military service while serving, are ineligible for the program.
Booker announced the bill at Sussex County Community College, alongside SSVF providers.
Booker with advocates at the bill announcement.
“The SSVF program has proven to be a tremendous success, helping thousands of veterans and their families find quality, affordable housing,” said Sen. Booker. “Yet, former members of the National Guard and Reserves are often ineligible to access the benefits of this program despite the critical role they played in protecting our nation and serving our communities. With this legislation, we will ensure that we honor our commitment to those who have served and sacrificed for our country by finally expanding eligibility of the SSVF program to national guardsmen, reservists, and their families.”
“The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) applauds Sen. Cory Booker for introducing the Supportive Services for Reserve Component Veterans and Families Act. Those who served in the National Guard and Military Reserve have been ineligible for many benefits when not federally activated. This important legislation would remove this barrier to entry from the Department of Veteran Affairs' Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program,” NCHV CEO Kathryn Monet stated. "NCHV thanks Senator Booker for expanding access to SSVF for veterans of both the Guard and Reserve, bringing us one step closer to achieving our mission of ending veteran homelessness."
“Our National Guard and Reserve are at the forefront when crisis hits,” said Dave Pearson, Assistant Director of Veteran Services for Catholic Family & Community Services in the Diocese of Paterson and Co-Chair of the New Jersey SOS Veteran Stakeholder Group. “Whether it’s a flood, hurricane or national emergency, it’s always our citizen soldiers who answer the call and respond to the need. We support Senator Booker’s initiative in extending SSVF emergency housing services to our National Guard and Reserve people. Creating a safeguard for the families of these state heroes if they are in jeopardy of losing their homes is a small request for those who give so much to our communities in our most trying times.”
“Soldier On supports efforts to expand the existing SSVF grant eligibility guidelines to include low-income veterans of the National Guard and their families,” said Bruce Buckley, Chief Executive Officer of Soldier On. “Service members should never be in a position where they are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. By expanding SSVF grant eligibility we can ensure that an even larger portion of our veteran population can access housing stabilization services in their local communities.”
“The Veterans Multi-Service Center (VMC) is proud to support the expansion of SSVF eligibility to many National Guardsmen and Reservists who are in need of these valuable services,” said Peter R. Wine, SSVF Program Manager, The Veterans Multi-Service Center. “The current proposal is a more equitable solution for the men and women who have served our country and the VMC is prepared to meet Senator Booker’s call to action.”
“Retired and separated National Guardsmen often face the same housing challenges as their former active-component brothers and sisters, yet many are ineligible for help from of the VA’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families program,” said retired Brig. Gen. J. Roy Robinson, President of the National Guard Association of the United States. “We applaud Senator Booker for this bill that would correct this longstanding inequity.”
In addition to expanding eligibility of the SSVF program, the legislation would also require the Secretary of Defense to submit an annual report to Congress detailing food and housing insecurity experienced by current reserve component service members, across all seven components of the Reserves and National Guard.
Full text of the legislation can be found here. Booker will formally introduce the bill when the Senate returns to session after Labor Day.
Today’s event was part of Booker’s 2022 Jersey Summer Road Trip, a series of stops highlighting the priorities he continues to fight for in the U.S. Senate on behalf of the state’s residents. The road trip will focus on Booker’s ongoing commitment to serving New Jersey’s veterans, his efforts to secure congressionally directed spending for critical New Jersey projects and organizations, and his support of local businesses and industries, and much more.