Veterans May Get New Housing Options Thanks To Lawmakers

by Jason Allentoff

Its not always easy for veterans to find affordable places to live - either rentals or sales. There may soon be some new options for the brave men and women who protect our freedom who are looking for housing thanks to a measure introduced in the Senate by 9th District Lawmakers.

The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee has favorably released legislation S-2182 introduced by Senator Chris Connors and Assemblymen Brian Rumpf and Dan Van Pelt that would require a portion of tenant-based assistance vouchers under the State Rental Assistance Program be reserved for grants to veterans.

Senator Connors says “Dedicating a portion of vouchers provided under the State Rental Assistance Program exclusively for veterans would be an effective means of fulfilling the obligation of government to provide housing assistance to those who have served our country in the Armed Forces and are struggling financially and in sponsoring this legislation, our Delegation felt that utilizing an existing program would allow for the state to provide this form of assistance to our veterans in a more expedited fashion.” Senator Connors currently serves on the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee as well as the Senate Law and Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee.

Assemblyman Van Pelt, who serves on the Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee, went on to add, “Putting aside vouchers for veterans will mean less veterans on a waiting list to receive housing assistance which they should be entitled to in recognition of their service. Additionally, the freedom that vouchers offer in allowing the recipient greater choice in determining their residence, as long as all guidelines are met, makes this a more attractive and appropriate form of assistance. Our Delegation recently held a veterans’ roundtable with various veterans’ groups in our District. We were pleased with the positive feedback on this specific initiative and certainly hope the Legislative Leadership decides to make this a priority of the Legislative agenda.”

The bill currently awaits a full vote in the Senate and Assembly consideration.