Congress of the United States Washington, BC 20515 March 17, 2016 ‘The Honorable Mario Diaz-Balart ‘The Honorable David Price Chairman Ranking Member Subcommittee on Transportation, Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development & Housing and Urban Development & Related Agencies Related Agencies House Appropriations Committee House Appropriations Committee Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515 Dear Chairman Diaz-Balart and Ranking Member Price: We are writing to request that the Transportation-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee continue funding for the HUD-VASH program for the Fiscal Year 2017. The HUD-VASH program is highly successful for our nation’s veterans escape homelessness each year. The HUD-VASH program combines rental assistance, in the form of a HUD voucher, with case management and supportive services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). By combining services, the HUD-VASH program helps homeless veterans return to being self-sufficient members of their community. HUD-VASH is truly @ life-saving program. According to the most recent Annual Homeless Assistance Report issued by HUD, 564,708 people were homeless in the United States on any given night. While homelessness among veterans has fallen by 36 percent since 2010, homelessness remains a large problem. In 2015, for example, an estimated 16,220 veterans were homeless on a given night. These figures illustrate the progress we have accomplished, as well as the continued need to support the HUD- ‘VASH program. In FY 2016, Congress appropriated $60 million for HUD VASH and we are asking that this amount be continued in FY 2017. ‘The HUD-VASH program provides critical assistance necessary for combatting homelessness among our nation’s heroes. Through community outreach in our districts, we have witnessed the benefits of the HUD-VASH voucher program. Veterans are provided with a stable environment necessary for addressing the factors that led to their homelessness. The bottom line is that there is great need for HUD- VASH assistance and the data demonstrates that the vouchers are well-utilized Homelessness among veterans—even one veteran—is unacceptable. We must continue to fund the highly-successful HUD-VASH program until homelessness has been eliminated among all veterans. AS your Subcommittee considers the FY 2017 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill, we ask that you support the crucial HUD-VASH program. Thank you for your consideration and attention to this matter. O Joan oe ( 5 Member of Congress Sincerely,Memb gress OG he. the. Lloaok ‘Member of Congress Tw Gabtart ‘Member of Congress Member of Congress “Member of Congress MedtoA Orsegp— ‘Member of Congress , Mehiber of Congress | fri bo ember of Congress ” oF —: ‘Mefnber df Goyfgtess i Lin Mate ‘Member of Congressiber of eBagress a ‘Member of Congress fember of Cafress (oe _ far Member of Congress Member of Congress jember of Congress Member of Congress Meyfver of Congress a ‘Member of Con, Ce Member of Congress AZ = Member of Congress ‘Member of Congress Member Ll Fo. ber of mngress aMember of Congress aus ror Eft L. Engee. ‘Member of Congress Male Member 8 Congress a Member of C; ol Nk. Member of Congress Member es iber of Conglss ber of Congress : jember of Congress ea egg Member of Congress, Member of Congress ‘Member! StonesMember of 38 od fember@LGongress Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress Cri litem. Member of Congress Mae of Congress Member of Congress ti ti fember of Co1 ibeof Congress OY ps Cisne iber of Congress hudonica (pasar fember of Congress 3 Mbmber of C. S Mu Member of{Cankfess LDIBew_» Membe{ pf Congress lowe ber of CongressBrin Toh Member of Congress Member of Congress iber of Congress ‘Member of Congress Member of Cor 2 Cocke Member of Congress fember of Gongress Kites Vide ‘Member of Congress Krob2. Member of Congress Member of Congress” Ka of Congress Lye feiber Of Congress “he Comat ‘of CongressBapeee ob Oak Member of Congress lember of Congress ale of! feb i a of Cor lember/of Congress Kc XK Qrawror din V. Member of Congress Member of | ress: Reel Vows Natsur Member of Congress Member of Congress. Member of Condfess Member of Congress Menttier ff CongressJil ll — : hb Member of Congress Methiber of Congress Mem! on] ‘Member of Congress f ‘MembePof Corpare&s eFC ‘Member df Congress Membef of Congress