WASHINGTON – New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, President of The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) and a Democrat, and Mesa, Arizona Mayor John Giles, Co-Chair of the USCM Task Force on Ending Veterans Homelessness and a Republican, today released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ decision to reinstate vital anti-homelessness funding:
“Mayors know good policy when they see it, and we’re delighted to see VA Secretary David Shulkin commit to programs that provide our veterans with the tools they need to avoid homelessness. As the Department of Veterans Affairs looks for ways to make this programming more targeted and effective in the next six months, we hope they’ll bring mayors to the table. Every mayor has ideas and expertise to offer that can keep our veterans housed and healthy.
“Those who fight for our freedoms shouldn’t have to come home and worry about whether there is a roof over their head at night. We’re looking forward to this dialogue, and we thank Secretary Shulkin for his leadership.”