Tester works to help homeless veterans back on their feet

Senator introduces bipartisan bill to help homeless veterans find work

(U.S. Senate) – As too many veterans continue to face homelessness after leaving active duty, Senator Jon Tester is working to help them find good-paying jobs.

Tester introduced a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, which provides support to state and local groups that assist homeless veterans looking for employment.

The Senator’s bill would allow veterans struggling with homelessness to access job training services, as well as career counseling, transportation assistance and medical and substance abuse treatment.

“Our military men and women put their lives on the line for us, we can’t forget about them when they come home,” said Tester, a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program makes a huge difference for Montana families by helping veterans get a good job and back on their feet.”

Volunteers of America Northern Rockies (VOA), a veterans service group in Billings, recently received a $200,000 grant through the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program to provide services for veterans in Helena.

“The Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program is a boots-on-the-ground program that meets veterans where they are,” said Scott Powers, Program Director at VOA in Billings. “Volunteers of America Northern Rockies, in just one county in Montana, helped 55 veterans find employment last year, and are on track to help even more this year. The need to move Montana’s veterans forward is still great, and without the renewal of this grant many veterans who served their country will not be served.”

Tester’s bill would also allow veterans who receive housing vouchers through a joint Housing and Urban Development and VA initiative (HUD-VASH) as well as Native American veterans who receive assistance through the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act to access these services.

Tester’s bipartisan Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act is available online HERE.