SB 384 Ensures Housing Funds for Underserved Veterans in California
SACRAMENTO – The Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee today passed legislation authored by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) that ensures that California’s underserved veterans have access to safe and permanent housing once they return from active duty. SB 384 specifically requires that a percentage of funding available for veterans housing be utilized for housing underserved veterans, such as women with children. The precise percentage of funds will be determined by the California Department of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with other appropriate agencies.
California is home to over 1.8 million veterans and women comprise 10% of the state’s veteran population making it the second largest population of women veterans in the nation, behind Texas. California’s vulnerable veteran population is more likely to face homelessness due to a significant lack of affordable housing, livable wage and access to necessary health care services. Many lack a supportive family network when they return home and have physical / psychological injuries related to their service.
A recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that women veterans identifying themselves as homeless more than doubled, increasing by over 140% from 2006 to 2010. During the same time frame, there was also a 45% increase in homelessness for male veterans.
“Veterans—particularly women veterans with children—oftentimes have great difficulty finding safe and reliable housing for themselves and their families once they return from service,” Senator Leyva said. “SB 384 will help to address with gap in services by making sure that a portion of veterans housing funding is devoted to housing underserved veterans, such as women with children. These brave heroes that have served our country deserve to know that they will have a place to call home as they transition back from military service.”
For single parent veterans—both male and female—finding adequate housing is nearly impossible. More than 60% of transitional housing providers who serve women do not house children. For single male veterans with children, the options are even fewer. Most of the programs that do house children have restrictions on the ages or number of children allowed. Female homeless veterans that do find housing often find placements in facilities that overwhelming house male veterans—creating safety and privacy risks.
SB 384 is supported by American Legion / Department of California, AMVETS / Department of California, California Women’s Law Center, Military Officers Association of America / California Council of Chapters, Veterans of Foreign Wars / Department of California and Vietnam Veterans of America / California State Council.
