Overhead view of Sacramento

Congresswoman Doris Matsui Announces New Veterans Service Center

October 4, 2017
Press Release

Today, Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-05) announced thatthe Department of Veterans Affairs will open a new VetsCenter in Sacramento Countyby the Fall of 2009. The new Center was madepossible by the $15 million funding increase for Vet Centers provided last yearby the Democratic Congress. . The additional resourceswill address the growing need for readjustment services to existing and newcombat veterans. It will also assistfamilies of those killed while on active duty and veterans experiencingmilitary related sexual trauma.

Congresswoman Doris Matsui Announces NewVeterans Service Center

Democratic Congress Continues to Deliveron Promise to Provide for Veterans

andquot;Overthe last year and a half, we have made landmark investments in veterans'services and funding. Now, as we prepareto welcome home the veterans currently serving our country, the new Vet Centerwill make sure that they have the tools and assistance they need tosuccessfully reintegrate into our community,andquot; said Rep. Matsui.

Combat veterans willreceive readjustment counseling and other assistance in 39 additional sitesacross the country, including the new one in Sacramento Countywhich will be open by the Fall of 2009.

The existing 232 VetCenters, including one on Howe Avenue, conduct community outreach to offercounseling on employment, family issues and education to combat veterans andfamily members, as well as bereavement counseling for families of servicemembers killed on active duty and counseling for veterans who were sexuallyharassed on active duty.

andquot;I am committed toproviding expansive services and resources to our veterans. They have given dedicated service to ourcountry, and we must honor that service by providing for them. That is why I look forward to supporting thisyear's veterans appropriations bill, which provides an additional $10 millionabove the President's budget for Vet Centers,andquot; said Rep. Matsui.

Vet Center services are availableat no cost to veterans who experienced combat during any war. They are staffed by small teams ofcounselors, outreach workers and other specialists, many of whom are combatveterans. The VetCenter program was established in 1979by Congress, recognizing that many Vietnam veterans were still havingreadjustment problems.

The centers have hired100 combat veterans who served in Iraqand Afghanistanas outreach specialists, often placing them near military processing stations,to brief servicemen and women leaving the military about VA benefits.

Today, the U.S. Houseof Representatives also passed the Homes for Heroes Act (H.R. 3329) to expandhousing assistance and supportive services for homeless veterans. The VA estimates that more than 400,000veterans are homeless at some point during the year.

H.R. 3329:

  • Establishes a supportive housing program at HUD for low-incomeveterans. The bill authorizes $200 million in FY2008 and such sums as may be necessary in subsequent years for anassistance program at HUD for supportive housing and services forlow-income veterans. Specifically,the bill authorizes grants to nonprofit organizations and consumercooperatives to expand the supply of permanent housing for low-incomeveterans and their families and to provide supportive services throughsuch housing to support the needs of such veteran families.
  • Requires HUD to provide at least 20,000 rental vouchers a yearfor homeless veterans. The bill also expands thehighly successful Department of Housing and Urban Development - VeteransAffairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH), authorizing 20,000 rentalvouchers annually and making the program permanent.
  • Establishes the position of Special Assistant for VeteransAffairs within HUD. The bill requires HUD to create aposition within the department to serve as the liaison to the Departmentof Veterans Affairs. Among otherthings, the liaison would ensure that the owners of housing projectsassisted under the bill have the managerial capacity to assess on anongoing basis the service needs of residents, coordinate the provision ofsupportive services, and tailor such services to the individual needs ofresidents.
  • Requires a comprehensive annual report on homeless veterans. The bill requires HUD to submit a comprehensive annual report toCongress on the housing needs of homeless veterans and the steps HUD hastaken under the programs provided for in the bill.
  • Ensures veterans' families continued assistance. The bill allows veterans' families to continue to receive theassistance provided for in the bill in the event of the veteran's death.

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