Bills would create and fund a new state matching grant program to aid homeless veterans
MADISON – Legislation brought forward by Legislative Republicans, in response to the Evers-Rodriguez administration’s closure of the Veterans Housing and Recovery Program (VHRP) facilities in Chippewa Falls and Green Bay, cleared the State Assembly on Wednesday. These proposals, Assembly Bills (AB) 596 and 597, would create and fund a new state matching grant program to aid homeless veterans.
Under federal law, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs awards per diem payments to qualifying organizations that provide services to homeless veterans of up to $82.73 per day for each veteran housed. This proposal creates a state matching grant program of up to $25 per day, per veteran housed, to any non-state entity that is also receiving federal per diem payments for serving homeless veterans. AB 597 creates this new matching grant program, and AB 596 appropriates $1.9 million ($950,000 in each year of the biennium) to fund this program once it is created.
Three of the legislators who helped bring forward this legislation issued the statements below following the vote in the Assembly:
Rep. Karen Hurd (R-Withee): “When the Evers-Rodriguez administration chose to close the VHRP facilities in Chippewa Falls and Green Bay, it propelled us to reimagine how Wisconsin serves our state’s homeless veterans. This new grant program, when paired with the existing federal per diem payments, will allow shelters around the state that wish to serve homeless veterans to do so.”
Rep. Rob Summerfield (R-Bloomer): “Today’s vote is an important step toward restoring critical services for homeless veterans. If the governor won’t use the resources already provided to give homeless veterans a place to land and rebuild their lives, then we will empower the organizations that will.”
Rep. Clint Moses (R-Menomonie): “Seeing these bills pass the Assembly today has me optimistic that they will be signed into law soon. No veteran who served our country should be left without a home or the support they have earned. These are a responsible step to make sure Wisconsin honors its commitments and ensures that every veteran has a place to turn.”
ABs 596 and 597 cleared the Assembly with unanimous 98-0 votes and now advance to the State Senate for their consideration.
