Stories
A Safe Home for Those Who Have Given So Much to America
In honor of Veterans Day this year, Deborah Burkart, founder of the LISC-NEF veterans housing initiative Bring Them HOMES, relects on the extraordinary strides that have been made toward creating safe, affordable, supportive homes for veterans—progress in spite of the pressures and set-backs brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The current moment, she writes, demands we intensify our efforts to provide healing homes for the men and women who have sacrificed so much on behalf of this nation.
Progress and Possibilities for Housing Every Veteran
Our commitment to helping house homeless and at-risk veterans won’t let up until there are no more ex-military men and women living on the streets. It’s hard work, especially in hot, high-cost markets. In honor of Veteran's Day, we're highlighting the creative solutions and partnerships that build supportive housing communities and make it possible for us reach our collective goal.
Three Decades of Homes and Hope
As the National Equity Fund (NEF) turns 30, LISC CEO Maurice Jones and NEF president Joe Hagan take the measure of all that has been accomplished thanks to the Low Income Housing Tax Credit. That includes three million affordable homes since the credit was created in 1986, and 90 percent of all affordable housing being built today. Ensuring that more low-income people can keep a roof over their heads demands safeguarding—and refining—the tools that make affordable homes possible.
Let's truly honor veterans
The Obama Administration has made it a national priority to end homelessness among veterans. But, getting that done takes much more than a government commitment. It requires a careful balance of responsive public policies and focused private and nonprofit partners—all aligned to develop housing and services that help veterans reclaim their lives. Debbie Burkart, who leads LISC's Bring them HOMES veterans initiative, talks about both sides of this equation in Veterans Day articles for Affordable Housing Finance and Next City. "Permanent supporting housing is an invaluable resource for healing and bringing hope to the men and women who served our country," she says.
A tax credit that works for vets
Ending homelessness for our brave returning veterans is an ambitious but doable goal. But it requires an effective and strong Low Income Housing Tax Credit program says Matt Josephs, LISC’s vice president for policy. In this article, Josephs takes a look at how policy and purpose intersect for low-income veterans, as they find the help they need at places like the new Liberty Village, in Amityville, N.Y.