In a united front to tackle veteran homelessness and housing crises, Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles leads an entourage of mayors from 50 cities to Washington, D.C. Working with the Biden-Harris Administration, as well as members of both the Senate and the House, these bipartisan city leaders aim to implement critical changes to housing policy. According to a statement from mayor.lacity.org, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) Task Force on Homelessness, chaired by Bass, has a legislative agenda with goals to expand veteran housing vouchers, lift restrictions on project-based vouchers, and increase funding for housing choice vouchers.
Meeting key figures, the cohort, which includes the likes of Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve, will engage with administration officials such as U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough and White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients. As part of the three-part agenda, adapting disability benefit conditions for veterans stands prioritized so they no longer have to choose between crucial support and a place to call home. Bass emphasized the importance of collaborations "to make tangible change in the greatest crisis facing Los Angeles and hundreds of cities across the country," as she told mayor.lacity.org.
During the visit, a press conference is set to take place on Tuesday, April 30th at 1 PM, showcasing the mayors' advocacy efforts to the public. The press conference, hosted by House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano, will occur at the House Triangle, solidifying the united front's aim to compel action and policy change. Homelessness, particularly veteran homelessness, remains a critical issue bridging political divides, and this delegation seeks to confront it head-on with a week of strategic meetings and public appeals for support.
Democrats and Republicans alike from California to New York make up the delegation, indicating that homelessness transcends geographic and political boundaries. Among the officials to be met, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) stand ready, illustrating the task force's bipartisan hope to bridge divides with a common goal. Rising above partisan politics, these city leaders focus on policy mechanisms that could potentially unlock housing opportunities for many Americans, particularly those who served the nation. Having begun their legislative push Sunday evening, their work will conclude Wednesday, determined to see through an issue gravely affecting not just Los Angeles but many of the represented states.
