Hi, I’m Representative Ben Franklin and I represent the 88th Assembly District. Today I want to talk to you about a bill I authored that recently was heard in the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.
This bill creates a new state grant program that allows the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs to provide state matching grants to organizations that already receive federal per diem payments for housing and assisting homeless veterans. These eligible organizations—such as nonprofit shelters, transitional housing programs, and community veteran service providers—could receive an additional $25 per veteran per day from the state, for up to a full year. The goal is to supplement existing federal funding and help cover the real daily costs of providing housing, meals, and essential support services for veterans. Applications would be accepted annually, and grants would be paid quarterly based on the number of veterans actually housed, ensuring that funding directly reflects the level of service provided.
This program is especially important because it provides critical state-level support to expand and sustain housing for homeless veterans. Federal funding alone often falls short of covering the real costs of care, and this matching grant helps fill that gap. By strengthening the resources of local shelters and veteran service providers, the bill helps ensure that more veterans have a safe place to stay, access to essential services in their communities, and a path toward stability and independence after their military service.
Thank you for your time, and have a great rest of the week!
