AMENDED IN SENIOR SENATE OCTOBER 26, 2011

SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL NO. 24

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER SERRIN

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AP 24: HOMELESS SENIOR VETERANS: INCREASED BENEFITS.

EXISTING LAW PROVIDES CERTAIN PROTECTIONS AND BENEFITS FOR VETERANS, INCLUDING, AMONG OTHERS, BENEFITS FOR QUALIFYING VETERANS UNDER THE VETERANS’ FARM AND HOME PURCHASE ACT OF 1943, AND SUBSEQUENT ACTS, WHICH ARE COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS THE CALVET HOME LOAN PROGRAM.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD INCORPORATE PENSION AND RENTAL HOUSING AVAILABILITY FOR SENIOR VETERANS THAT WOULD RAISE AWARENESS OF EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT SENIOR VETERANS WHO ARE HOMELESS, AND THAT WOULD PROVIDE RENTAL HOUSING BENEFITS TO SENIOR VETERANS WHO ARE HOMELESS IN A MANNER THAT REDUCES THE COSTS OF PROVIDING THESE BENEFITS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AP 24: RELATING TO VETERANS

WHEREAS, THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFERS A PENSION BENEFIT TO VETERANS THROUGH ITS VETERANS PENSION PROGRAM, AND THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT PROVIDES RENTAL ASSISTANCE, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND CLINICAL SERVICES FOR HOMELESS VETERANS THROUGH ITS VETERANS AFFAIRS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM;

AND WHEREAS, MANY VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II, THE KOREAN CONFLICT, AND THE VIETNAM ERA WHO WERE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AT THE TIME OF ENTERING SERVICE, WHO ARE NOW SENIORS 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER, ARE POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE FOR, BUT UNAWARE OF THE EXISTENCE OF, THE VETERAN PENSION PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES A MONTHLY INCOME BENEFIT THAT COULD BE APPLIED TO RENTAL HOUSING COSTS; AND

WHEREAS, A RECENT STUDY BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FOUND THAT CITIES, STATES, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAY MORE TO PROVIDE THE HOMELESS SHORT-TERM TRANSITIONAL SHELTER AND SERVICES THAN WHAT IT WOULD COST TO MOVE THESE TRANSITIONAL FACILITIES TO ONE OR SHARED TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT HOUSING; AND

WHEREAS, RENTAL SAVINGS AND SHARED HOUSING INCENTIVE SAVINGS ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO QUALIFIED VETERANS UNDER CHAPTER 82 OF THE STATUTES OF 2009; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2011 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE LEGISLATURE ADOPT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD INCORPORATE PENSION AND RENTAL HOUSING AVAILABILITY FOR SENIOR VETERANS UNDER THE CALVET HOME LOAN PROGRAM, TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE FEDERAL VETERANS AFFAIRS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAMS, THE STATE OPERATION WELCOME HOME PROGRAM, AND ANY OTHER AVAILABLE FUNDING SOURCES; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE LEGISLATURE ADOPT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD RAISE AWARENESS OF EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT SENIOR VETERANS WHO ARE HOMELESS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE VETERANS PENSION PROGRAM AND THE VETERANS AFFAIRS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE LEGISLATURE ADOPT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROVIDE RENTAL HOUSING BENEFITS TO SENIOR VETERANS WHO ARE HOMELESS IN A MANNER THAT REDUCES THE COSTS OF PROVIDING THESE BENEFITS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,

THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

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RN 11 17651