Dexter Fights to Ensure No Veteran is Left Without Housing with Novel Legislative Proposal
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) introduced the Every Veteran Housed Act, new legislation to expand access to life-saving resources for veterans experiencing homelessness. Congresswoman Dexter serves on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and served as a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provider for seven years.
“As a former VA provider, I’ve seen firsthand how the federal government fails to meet its moral obligation to those who served,” said Congresswoman Dexter. “Case in point: no veteran should be left out in the cold because of technicalities. This bill is about removing barriers, centering compassion, and delivering on the promise we made to every person who served.”
The Every Veteran Housed Act removes barriers and streamlines eligibility standards across VA homelessness programs, making it easier for veterans experiencing homelessness to access the full range of support they have earned. It also expands access to include all who served—whether active duty or in the National Guard or the Reserve—ensuring no veteran is left behind when it comes to critical VA housing resources.
For more information on this legislation, refer to a one-page fact sheet here.
“For too long, gaps in eligibility have prevented thousands of veterans—especially those from the National Guard and Reserve—from accessing the homelessness services they need. The Every Veteran Housed Act closes those gaps and brings long-overdue consistency to VA programs. By aligning standards across the board, this bill allows for greater veteran choice between programs and helps ensure that services are built around the needs of veterans. We thank Congresswoman Dexter for championing a more veteran-centric and inclusive approach to ending homelessness,” said Kathryn Monet, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.
“The Oregon National Guard Association supports all efforts to bring parity to our National Guard service members with those who serve or have served on active duty. The Every Veteran Housed Act expands the definition of “veteran” to include National Guard and Reserve members, correcting a longstanding inequity in access to critical services like HUD-VASH and VA case management. This legislation ensures our citizen-warriors receive the recognition and support they deserve, regardless of the nature of their service. We thank the members of Congress who brought this important legislation forward,” said Kevin Dial, Oregon National Guard Association (ORNGA) Executive Director.
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