If we consider how much one young woman accomplished during her year of service as Miss America on behalf of our nation s homeless veterans, there can be no doubt this nation can end homelessness among veterans within a decade. If our nation demonstrates the care, compassion, and fidelity to ending homelessness among veterans as Heather French Henry did during her year of service as Miss America, a decade from now there will be no homelessness among veterans. The end of veteran homelessness and prompt action on the Heather French Henry Homeless Veterans Assistance Act are a high priority for many. These goals are strongly supported, for example, by the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans and its hundreds of member organizations throughout the nation who daily provide essential services to homeless veterans. I am also pleased the Veterans Organizations Homeless Council which represents many major military and veterans service organizations strongly supports the legislation I am introducing today.
Homelessness is a complex problem for which there is no quick fix .
Homeless veterans are likely to face more than one serious challenge. They are more likely to have serious chronic mental illness, substance use disorders, significant chronic illnesses or disease, to lack the social networks that help most of us through our difficulties and to lack job and even basic living skills. The programs provided by the Heather French Henry Homeless Veterans Assistance Act address these problems with comprehensive solutions. Programs that have demonstrated effectiveness in assisting homeless veterans should be expanded. Better coordination among the services offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs and those offered by other federal, state and local agencies is also needed.