Castor, Pelosi Introduce Bill to Help Aging Veterans & Veterans With Disabilities Stay in Their Homes

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11) introduced the No Veteran Left Behind: Housing Retention Act of 2026 to help aging Veterans and Veterans with disabilities remain safely housed. The legislation would create a new grant program within the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, giving community providers resources to deliver tailored services that help veterans maintain their health, live independently and avoid homelessness. “No veteran should lose their home because they cannot get the care and support they need. The patriotic Tampa Bay area expects veterans who served our country to be able to age with dignity and live safely,” said Rep. Castor. “This bill will give trusted community providers more tools to help Veterans manage their health, get to medical appointments and prevent an eviction before it happens. I’m proud to partner with Speaker Emerita Pelosi to help Veterans stay in their homes and ensure our commitment to them lasts long after their military service ends.” “Veteran homelessness is a challenge to the conscience of our nation. No person who served our nation in uniform should be forced to sleep on our streets because the support they earned and deserve is out of reach,” said Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. “This legislation helps codify the successful California pilot as a national model that helped fill the gap for San Francisco’s elderly and disabled Veterans—the fastest growing cohort. By meeting Veterans where they are, this transformative legislation would enhance access and stability for Veterans to their health care, transportation and daily supports that they need, earned and deserve. Just as our Veterans kept their promise to our nation, we must keep our promise to them when they come home.” “Elderly and disabled veterans are the fastest growing group of veterans experiencing homelessness, and getting them into housing is only the first step. Keeping them there takes health care navigation, mental health support, and help with daily living, delivered where they live,” said House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39). “Speaker Emerita Pelosi and Rep. Castor’s bill does that. California’s pilot proved the model works, with fewer than 4 percent of veterans losing their housing and emergency room visits down 75 percent. Veterans’ Affairs Committee Democrats are proud to support this bill, and I thank them for their leadership.” Veterans’ needs are changing as they age. In 2015, 55 percent of SSVF participants had a disabling condition; by 2023, that share had increased to 70 percent. Approximately half of SSVF participants in 2024 were aged 55 or older. The legislation would help community providers respond with more intensive, individualized support, including services delivered in veterans’ homes. The No Veteran Left Behind: Housing Retention Act would support services including: Mental and behavioral health care, including individual and group counseling, substance use disorder counseling, crisis intervention and peer support; Food and meal assistance, help with grocery shopping, and transportation to medical appointments, grocery stores, job interviews and other community services; Occupational therapy, functional assessments, coordination of assistive devices and home accessibility modifications; Medication management support and help navigating health care options; Eviction prevention, tenant support and in-home services that help veterans maintain safe, habitable housing; Financial management assistance and therapeutic and social activities. The bill would prioritize providers serving Veterans transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing and veterans who need ongoing services to remain housed and avoid unnecessary institutionalization. It would also require coordination among VA, health care providers, housing providers and community organizations to address Veterans’ needs and reduce duplication of services. Endorsing organizations: Swords to Plowshares National Alliance to End Homelessness New Visions Village for Vets USVETS The American Legion Veterans of Foreign Wars National Coalition for Homeless Veterans Disabled American Veterans Community Solutions Lyft Vincentian Cares Read the bill text HERE .