In Recognition of Homes for Heroes

Floor Speech

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Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Homes for Heroes, the Mission First Housing Group's Fund for Veterans' fundraising event for housing for homeless veterans. Homelessness among veterans is a tragic problem nationwide, and many veterans struggle with addiction and other issues that make keeping their own homes difficult. The federal government estimates that nearly 50,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, and another 1.4 million are at risk of homelessness. Seventy percent of homeless veterans face substance abuse issues. And it's a problem that seems to be getting worse: Pennsylvania's homeless population increased by 46 percent from 2009 to 2013. The service of our veterans should never be forgotten, and organizations like Mission First do much to ensure that those individuals and their families who have sacrificed so much for our country have a safe place to call home. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Mission First on its work to honor our nation's veterans. Working with groups like Mission First, we can help get veterans off the streets and into safe homes. We owe it to the many veterans who served and sacrificed.

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