Washington, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker introduced theSupportive Services for National Guard and Reserve Component Veterans and Families Act, legislation that would expand the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program to include 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 promotes housing stability among very low-income veteran families who reside in or are transitioning to permanent housing. It has helped decrease veteran homelessness by 50% and assisted 850,000 veterans and their families 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.

“Despite the fact that members of the National Guard and Reserves take the same oath that members of our military do, that is to support and defend the Constitution of these United States, many are excluded from critical federal benefits including the SSVF program” said Sen. Booker. “By all measures, this program has been a tremendous success, providing low-income veterans and their families critical housing assistance during their times of need and reducing homelessness rates by 50%. This legislation expands the program and ensures that veterans of the National Guard and Reserves can take advantage of its benefits, making it easier for more veterans who have served our country to access the care and resources they deserve.”

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.