Smucker, Carbajal Reintroduce Home for the Brave Act
Washington— Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) is again partnering with Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) to reintroduce bipartisan legislation aimed at improving housing access and affordability for U.S. veterans.
The lawmakers’ Home for the Brave Act would exempt veterans' disability benefits from counting toward total income when determining their eligibility for housing assistance programs through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
"Our veterans put their lives at great risk to keep all of us safe back home. To return home and be priced out of housing assistance simply because they receive service-related disability benefits is just plain wrong," said Rep. Smucker. "Our district has made great strides to eliminate veteran homelessness, and I am proud to stand with my constituents in this noble effort. I want to thank Rep. Carbajal for his work on behalf of our nation's veterans and their families and look forward to working together to get this legislation passed."
"It is wrong to deny veterans access to housing assistance programs due to disability benefits they receive for service-related injury or illness," said Rep. Carbajal. "I am proud to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation to make housing more affordable and accessible on the Central Coast and across the country. They stepped up to defend our nation and now Congress must step up for them by ending this housing discrimination against our disabled veterans."
Financial benefits for service-connected disabilities are currently counted as income when determining eligibility for housing assistance programs through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
As a result, many veterans are determined ineligible for these housing programs because their disability benefits are placing them at a higher income level.
Other agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), do not consider veterans benefits for service-connected disabilities income.
A veteran filing disability claims with the VA received on average $20,600 in 2022.
The bill has endorsement of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), National Coalition for the Homeless, and the Military Officers Association of America.
"The VFW supports this legislation to ensure veterans will be able to fully utilize their earned benefits without the penalty of financial offsets," said VFW Director of National Legislative Services, Patrick Murray. "Using one earned VA benefit should never prevent a veteran from using another unrelated benefit. The VFW is glad to see this issue has the bipartisan support it deserves, and we thank Congressmen Carbajal and Smucker for making this a priority."
“Far too many of our nation’s heroes face the grim reality of homelessness following their time of service,” said American Legion National Commander Daniel J. Seehafer. “Moreso, veterans left with service-connected disabilities may experience discrimination through housing assistance programs within the Department of Housing & Urban Development. The American Legion is proud to address this injustice by supporting the Home for the Brave Act.”
"The Home for the Brave Act is a critical bipartisan solution to expand housing assistance for homeless veterans," said Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), President and CEO of the Military Officers Association of America. "Service-disabled veterans receive compensation for injuries sustained in service to our nation. These payments should not restrict their access to housing programs when in need. We applaud Representatives Carbajal and Smucker for spearheading this legislation to address a major issue facing homeless veterans. MOAA urges Congress to swiftly enact the Home for the Brave Act and expand housing opportunities for those who have sacrificed for our country."
Contact: Eric Reath 202-597-0228, eric.reath@mail.house.gov
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