WASHINGTON (TND) — Congress is feeling the heat after approving the $1.2 trillion budget in March that included billions in pet projects like biking trails and walking paths for Congress members in their home states. Critics are now blasting the earmarks, arguing that lawmakers still have not addressed the crisis to protect America’s veterans and the help they need.
Veteran’s Village, a nonprofit organization committed to providing safe and affordable housing for America’s veterans, has seen the struggle firsthand and is working on helping our veterans have housing.
Veterans Villages Director Lisa Pflaumer joined The National Desk’s Jan Jeffcoat to discuss the issue.
“Well, we’ve been incredibly impactful in Philadelphia. We opened our flagship Veterans Village, the Bernard Spain campus, in the Frankford section of Philadelphia,” she said.” We have all of our studio, and one-bedroom apartments filled with a waiting list, and we do have a few two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments available for our military veterans and their families.”
The organization opened up a 47-unit apartment complex in Philadelphia for veterans who were homeless.
While the federal budget does include $3 billion to help with housing for veterans, it does not even come close to addressing the number of homeless veterans.
“We’re in a national housing crisis, especially for affordable housing, specifically for vulnerable populations like our military veterans. They’re either separating from service or have separated from service and struggle to find permanent, safe, respectable and affordable housing, which is the cornerstone and the foundation for them to be able to have a fulfilling, safe and sustainable life,” Pflaumer said.