Reyes Announces Homeless Assistance and Stop-Loss Payment Deadline Extension for Veterans

Press Release

Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) today released important information for veterans and service members living in the 16th District of Texas on a new program that aims to assist homeless veterans and announced an extension to apply for retroactive stop-loss payments.

"Veterans and our military personnel are the lifeline of our country and communities and many are faced with real-life issues like homelessness and the retroactive stop-loss payment that require immediate, proactive, action," Congressman Reyes said. "As the third most senior member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, and second most senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am committed to veterans and service members in El Paso and the surrounding communities. As a Vietnam veteran, I know first-hand the needs of my fellow combat veterans, and stand ready to support initiatives that better their lives."

In a joint announcement, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that HUD will provide $72.6 million to public housing agencies to provide permanent housing and case management for more than 10,000 homeless veterans. This assistance is provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.

Today's announcement is the first of two rounds of 2012 HUD-VASH funding. HUD expects to announce the remaining funding later this year.

In other news, this week, the Department of Defense announced that the deadline for veterans and service members to apply for retroactive stop-loss payments has been extended through October 21, 2012.

Members of the military, along with their beneficiaries, whose service was involuntarily extended under stop loss between September 11, 2001, and September 30, 2009, are eligible for the retroactive payments. The pay provides $500 for each month or partial month served in stop loss status.

To receive the benefits, veterans must submit a claim to the military branch in which they served by October 21, 2012. Information about the payments, including how to apply, is available at www.defense.gov/stoploss or www.reyes.house.gov.

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