Gov. Katie Hobbs says she wants to end veteran homelessness in Arizona in the next 10 years.
The proposed state budget released by the governor’s office earlier this year includes $5 million for the Homes for Heroes program, which would pay for housing solutions for veterans, such as rental assistance, along with counseling and other social services.
The governor’s proposal would also fund veteran treatment courts, which exist in some Arizona courts to connect veterans accused of crimes with programs to address underlying issues, including substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Our goal to effectively end veteran homelessness in Arizona in the next decade is a bold but necessary vision,” Hobbs said. “It will require partnership, collaboration and investment.”
Michelle Jameson with U.S. Vets Phoenix said access to affordable and those social services is key to addressing veteran homelessness.
“It is not the veterans that need to thank us, but it is us that need to thank the veterans,” Jameson said. “Housing, food and safety should never be considered luxuries.”
The initial $5 million investment sought by Hobbs in her budget proposal is relatively modest, but advocates like Jameson said it is a needed first step.
“U.S. Vets is proud to support the homes for Heroes initiative — a vital step forward,” Jameson said.
Ensuring the veterans receive federal benefits they are entitled to is important as well, she said.
So far this year, spending on veterans benefits and services has accounted for about 5% of federal spending, or $185 billion, according to the Department of the Treasury.
John Scott, the director of Arizona Department of Veterans Services, said the state currently has 60 benefits counselors to help the state’s 500,000 veterans make sure they are receiving those benefits.
“That was an increase of 20 over the last couple of years,” Scott said. “We're bringing in, as of this last month, $97.4 million a month in benefits to Arizona veterans with a 95% accuracy rate.”
But, he added, “Would we love to have more veteran benefit counselors? Absolutely.”
Hobbs' push comes amid fears that widespread cuts in federal spending will hurt veterans’ access to care and benefits.
“It is absolutely critical that we are able to provide the benefits to our veterans that they deserve, that they earned, and it is something that we will fight for,” Hobbs said. “When I talk about standing up to the Trump administration when they're not getting it right for Arizonans, this is absolutely an area where we're going to do that.”
The Trump administration has already ended a program that helped veterans who had fallen behind on mortgage payments keep their homes. And NPR reported that job cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs have providers and patients worried that veterans suffering from mental health issues will have a harder time getting the care they need.
Last month, VA spokesman Peter Kasperowicz told NPR in a statement, “The VA will always provide veterans, families, caregivers and survivors the health care and benefits they have earned.”
