Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Buyer, thank you for holding this hearing to examine the effectiveness of the Department of Veterans Affairs homelessness programs.

Like all of my colleagues, I am troubled by the large number of veterans that are homeless.  While I am thankful for the decline, during the past year, in the number of veterans homeless on a typical night, more must be done.  For example, I believe we must also focus on efforts to help prevent veterans from becoming homeless. 

As you may know, I introduced the Services to Prevent Veterans Homelessness Act in May 2007 to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide financial assistance to nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives to provide and coordinate the provision of supportive services that addresses the needs of very low-income veterans occupying permanent housing. 

I would like to thank Health Subcommittee Chairman Michaud and Ranking Member Miller for including the Services to Prevent Veterans Homelessness Act in the Veterans’ Health Care Improvement Act, which passed the full House of Representatives in July 2007.  I believe this legislation will go a long ways toward helping prevent more veterans from becoming homeless. 

Thank you again to all of our witnesses for being here.  I look forward to continuing to work with the Committee to examine the effectiveness of the Department of Veteran Affairs homeless programs and to support efforts to meet the housing assistance needs of our nation's low-income veterans.