opinion

VA wrong to stop funding homeless veteran program: Editorial

The federal Veteran Affairs is flat-out wrong to cut funding to an excellent, imperative program that supports homeless veterans and their families in our area.

Worse yet, the agency administrating this service, Hudson River Housing, found out only a few weeks ago the funding would be discontinued. Elected officials representing this area are urging the VA to reverse this decision, and it should. Nevertheless, Hudson River Housing Executive Director Christa Hines told the Poughkeepsie Journal the agency is committed to the program and is not planning on winding it down.

The agency was told earlier this month it wouldn’t be receiving an annual VA grant it’s been getting since 2012. The annual funding, about $500,000, supports an effective initiative, one that has aided more than 450 homeless or at-risk veteran families. The help runs the gamut from rental and transportation assistance to financial planning. What’s more, five full-time staff members — two of whom are veterans — are funded through the grant.

Indicative of the fine work, Hudson River Housing is the recipient of the Award for Innovative Excellence from Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families. And Hines says the agency’s application has scored extremely well based on the VA’s own standards and criteria.

The VA issued a statement, saying it is still providing “$1,935,000 in yearly Supportive Services for Veteran Families funding to the Hudson Valley area” and is looking to ensure “resources go to where they best align with Veterans’ needs.”

But veterans’ needs in this area cannot be denied.

“We have 30 open cases of homeless veteran families we’re currently servicing, and in two weeks we could not be able to serve them,” Hines said. “We’re beyond concerned.”

The VA has been under intense pressure the last decade or so, considering the number of returning military personnel from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of these troops had multiple deployments, and the VA has been beset by scandals, including long wait times at some facilities across the country — and the fact that some facilities were actually covering up these deficiencies. During the Obama administration, Congress did put more resources into fixing the system, aiming to give the VA the tools it needs to ensure better care and services for our veterans.

Considering this overall context, cutting the funding for a sound local program makes absolutely no sense and must be opposed in the strongest possible terms. Local elected officials should keep up the pressure; the VA must reconsider this decision.

What you can do

Donations can be made to Hudson River Housing to offset the cost of this cut. Find out more at http://hudsonriverhousing.org