Congressman Ruiz introduces legislation to expand services for homeless veterans

Community members of Imperial County speak about how this bill will benefit the homeless veterans in the Imperial Valley - News 11's Vanessa Gongora reports

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz announced the bipartisan "Health Care for Homeless Veterans Act" to address rising homelessness among veterans and connect vulnerable veterans with the care they need across the nation.

The Act was announced on Tuesday, May 17.

Dr. Ruiz's says his legislation would expand access to Veterans Affairs' homeless outreach services for all veterans, including those who received "Other Than Honorable" discharges.

According to CalVets, California is the state with the most unsheltered veterans with approximately 19,000 homeless veterans.

Congressman Ruiz says this needs to change.

"The term homeless veteran shouldn't even exist in the Unites States. We need to do a better job as a nation to make sure that anybody who serves our country in uniform should not be homeless out on the streets," said Congressman Ruiz.

Some of the outreach services provided will be health care counseling, medical care and help with housing.

Congressman Ruiz said there is a significant population of homeless veterans in the Imperial Valley. He says because of the lack of responses, some have to travel to San Diego for help.

"That's why here in the Imperial Valley it's so important that we pass this bill so that we can continue these programs for the homeless veterans," said Congressman Ruiz.

Cheryl Viegas Walker, an El Centro City Council Member, says this bill is personal to her because her dad was in the Navy and it's heartbreaking to see what's happening to homeless vets.

"You've come across these individuals that put their life on the line for the country, and then to come home and not have a place to live or to be suffering from some kind of trauma that's made it difficult for them to maybe fit back in with all of us," says Walker. 

One local veteran, Agustin Saldana, who served 20 years in the Navy and is now Imperial Valley's Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 9305 Quartermaster, says this legislation is good news for those with an "Other Than Honorable" discharge.

"Giving them the credit for the time they did serve cause they were in and let's give them the services they need and deserve," said Saldana.

Saldana says the VFW helps out as much as they can.

Congressman Ruiz says he hopes his bill will pass the house within the next few months.