[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 24, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF HOMES FOR HEROES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PATRICK MEEHAN

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 24, 2016

  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Homes for Heroes, 
the Mission First Housing Group's Fund for Veterans' fundraising event 
for housing for homeless veterans.
   Homelessness among veterans is a tragic problem nationwide, and many 
veterans struggle with addiction and other issues that make keeping 
their own homes difficult. The federal government estimates that nearly 
50,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, and another 1.4 
million are at risk of homelessness. Seventy percent of homeless 
veterans face substance abuse issues.
   And it's a problem that seems to be getting worse: Pennsylvania's 
homeless population increased by 46 percent from 2009 to 2013.
   The service of our veterans should never be forgotten, and 
organizations like Mission First do much to ensure that those 
individuals and their families who have sacrificed so much for our 
country have a safe place to call home.
   Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Mission First on its work to honor our 
nation's veterans. Working with groups like Mission First, we can help 
get veterans off the streets and into safe homes. We owe it to the many 
veterans who served and sacrificed.

                          ____________________