approval from the department. >> can you tell me how hud vouchers expire in 120 days if you consider extending that. >> when we say it expires it expires for that particular servicemember. the voucher would then go back to the housing authority and the housing authority that receives a referral from va would be able to reissue the voucher but what you are asking, is there a possibility to extend the 120 day period for that particular veteran? we will see if that is possible. >> you one to put some urgency behind it but in a tough market it may present different circumstances. >> precisely. >> are you satisfied local agencies are taking advantage of this flexibility about vouchers? if not, is there a way we can help them understand the benefit of that? >> particularly in la we will have concentrated efforts occurring there. we were taken back by the increase in point in time count for veterans homelessness in la. we need to do concentrated outreach to talk about targeted ways to be increasing the success rate of vouchers and project basing is one of those solutions. >> really apprecia

i had some questions for miss blom, if i could, about the hud vouchers. i think you heard the comments i made before to the previous panel. are there any actions that hud is taking to address the mortgage and rental cost disparities in high cost markets with the hud voucher program? >> yes. thank you very much for the question. we definitely have seen particularly in west coast cities, those in california as well as in seattle, that there has been an increase in veterans homelessness. largely driven by decrease of affordable housing and high cost of living in those cities. so we have recognized this. we do believe that there are some potential solutions here. first, we believe that it's important for housing authorities to be working with their partners to project-base these vouchers and now vouchers can be used as project basing and made much easier as a result of changes congress made in 2016. we will continue to encourage the project basing of these vouchers so that there's a development of affordable housing and it's available long-term for veterans. s

shortly hud will be awarding 5,500 new hud vouchers with the additional $40 million appropriated last year. although we have seen incredible results through the program, we continue to make changes to address local needs. first, hud is changing the distribution of homeless veterans between hud and the va plan to develop a process to recapture unused hud vouchers and reallocate to high need cities. second, we have awarded 4700 vouchers as project-based allowing for the development of affordable housing in high cost areas. third, we are encourage authorities to project base their existing hud vouchers made easier through the housing opportunity through the modernization act of 2016. these efforts demonstrate our commitment to optimizing the effectiveness of hud while allowing for local flexibility in addressing homeless veteran population. building on the success, congress a proep ri 8ed 5.9 million in 2015 for the tribal pilot program. to begin addressing homelessness in indian country. as of last week, 299 native american veterans were receiving case management and of those 234 were h

hud. iftop of that, he is saying you are and public housing and you're not working, that you would not be eligible for those benefits. he is taking away billions of dollars from section eight vouchers- this is a time when now too many people are paying 60% of their income in housing. he is taking away, as bernie sanders said, the ability for people to have any kind of shelter and heat. various programs that allow people to have housing -- first of all, but then also allow them to take on their utility bills, things like that. so this is, you know, every major city across the country but also some minor cities across the country are experiencing tremendous housing shortfalls. this budget is going to ensure there are more people homeless, that there are more people without adequate even temporary shelter, and more people without surviveities taxes hard, cold winters list of amy: finally, pramila jayapal, in addition to being a cumbersome number, you are a longtime immigrants leader. talk about what is happening in congress right now. the senate supposedly opening debate on daca, what were the body is doing, the house of representatives? >> the senate is supposed to be opening debate,