Secretary of Veterans Affairs on combating homelessness among America's heroes
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for veterans is down to 2.7% in October, its lowest rate in years. But despite the improving job numbers for veterans, there is still the tragic issue of homelessness among America’s heroes. Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin told FOX Business Network’s Stuart Varney on “Varney & Co.,” “There’s still 40,000 veterans without homes in this country and that’s just a terrible figure, it’s unacceptable, so we have a lot more work to do.”
According to Shulkin, the challenge is finding affordable housing for veterans, particularly in cities such as Los Angeles and Seattle.
“We have to find affordable housing because the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have vouchers that we give to homeless veterans, but if there aren’t places for them and landlords who are willing to rent them,we can’t get them off the streets.”
Shulkin says the department is partnering with companies in the housing industry in Los Angeles.
“We need strategic partnerships with builders and real estate companies to want to go out and work with us to build those homes.”