The number of veterans experiencing homelessness nationwide has decreased 11% since 2020, and a similar improvement has been observed in Nebraska.

The Department of Veterans Affairs said there's been a 55% decrease in the number of homeless veterans since 2010, and the VA is within reach of meeting its goal of rehousing 38,000 veterans this year.

Kerry Miller Loos, mental health specialty programs director for the Nebraska-Western Iowa VA Health Care System, said hundreds of millions of dollars of American Rescue Plan funds were directed to the need, which helped tremendously, including preventing people from becoming homeless.

"So, perhaps they were behind in rent or behind on utilities, but then we were also able to house veterans, using that money for deposits, first month's rent, things like that," Miller Loos outlined. "To help get veterans into their housing faster."

The VA works with homelessness coalitions and landlord engagement groups throughout the state. Miller Loos noted there are some great landlords, but the lack of affordable housing is still a significant problem.

Miller Loos pointed out the VA's program, Supportive Services for Veteran Families, has funds to help low-income veterans and their families. The money is distributed to community action agencies which cover every county in Nebraska.

"So they are able to provide case management and other supportive services to prevent imminent loss of a veteran's home, or identify a more suitable housing situation," Miller Loos explained.

Veterans make up around 7% of the general population, but around 13% of the homeless population.

Miller Loos added one reason is many veterans of all ages suffer from chronic health conditions, making it hard for them to find and maintain employment at wages sufficient to afford stable housing.

"Very low-income people have to make decisions about paying for food, clothing, transportation and a place to live," Miller Loos emphasized. "And sometimes, they can't do all of those things."

She added all social-service agencies are trained to refer veterans to Supportive Services for Veteran Families or other programs appropriate for them. Any vet at risk of becoming homeless can also call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838 to be connected with resources in their area.

The Nevada Housing Justice Alliance, tenants, lawmakers and community leaders gathered at a news conference outside the Capitol in Carson City this week to rally for legislation to expand legal protections for renters and increase rent control.

According to lawmakers, Nevada rent prices soared above the rest of the country last year. They said access to affordable housing is a top issue facing families.

Assmeblywoman Shondra Summers-Armstrong, D-Las Vegas, said her bill, Assembly Bill 340, intends to change the summary eviction process. Currently in order to challenge an eviction in Nevada, tenants must make the first court filing. She said changing this would allow renters a chance to defend themselves.

"Something must be done," she said. "We cannot move forward another legislative session pretending like we don't have a crisis. We have a crisis."

Summers-Armstrong said her bill aims to change the procedure so that landlords would first have to go to court to have a tenant evicted, and provide them with plenty of notice to answer the complaint. She said it creates a more "fair legal process."

There are a number of bills that aim to provide solutions to what some see as an afforable housing crisis. Sen. Pat Spearman, D-North Las Vegas, said her bill, Senate Bill 363, prioritizes housing for women veterans, women who were formerly incarcerated, those recovering from domestic violence - and senior women who are housing insecure.

"They are four times more likely to not have a place to stay than their peers," she said. "As a matter of fact, those four groups are the highest, the fastest-growing, homeless groups in the United States."

Spearman and other lawmakers are pushing for legislation to keep some of the state's lowest-income residents housed, while also aiming to prevent an eviction crisis as federal dollars distributed for rental assistance during the pandemic are set to expire.

A recent report examines Connecticut's eviction crisis and addresses some solutions to it. The report from Connecticut Voices for Children finds 39% of renters in the state who were not current on rent payments felt they would be evicted in the next two months. That rate was higher for Black and Latino renters, reaching 54% and 56% respectively. The report also finds high absenteeism rates correlate to some kids facing housing insecurity. But, the report takes a look at some short-term policy recommendations to help renters in the state.

Samaila Adelaiye, research and policy fellow with Connecticut Voices for Children, said one of the primary areas of focus was income support.

"When it comes to income and income equivalent supports, we make recommendations for making the Connecticut property tax credit fully refundable and available to renters. Because while renters indirectly pay property taxes, they do not have access to relief through Connecticut's property tax credit," Adelaiye said.

He added they support different pieces of legislation addressing tenant protections. Other recommendations in the report include increasing funding for rental assistance, making a state child tax credit permanent, and sustaining funding for the state's Right to Counsel program. This report is one of a two-part series; the second report will address more long-term solutions.

Although the report provides avenues for alleviating Connecticut's eviction crisis, there are additional questions it raises. Adelaiye noted most of these revolve around renters in the state having enough money for other necessities outside of rent. He said there are numerous issues coming out of the state's housing crisis.

"We know that evictions particularly are the product of the housing affordability crisis is causing more socio-economic harm, increasing financial strain leading in some cases to homelessness."

From here, Adelaiye said the high cost of housing must be addressed, with rent caps being one way to do that. Currently, Connecticut Senate Bill 4 would have included a rent cap, but that was eliminated while the bill was in committee. However, should the bill pass, it will allow for a series of tenant protections including a winter eviction moratorium, making it illegal to evict anyone from December through March.

Ohio's affordable housing shortage has worsened over the past year, according to new data from the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio and the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

The report found economic disruptions driven by the pandemic and a shrinking housing supply nationwide have left only 40 units available for every 100 Ohioans seeking affordable housing.

Amy Riegel, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, said more than 400,000 low-income residents are currently burdened by steep rents.

"Sixty-eight percent of them are not living in affordable housing," Riegel reported. "And not only are they not living in affordable housing, they are paying more than 50% of their income on rent and utilities. "

According to data from Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies, apartment rents were up 12% nationally in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the year prior, with increases in several metro areas exceeding 20%.

In his executive budget, Gov. Mike DeWine proposed expanding the Ohio Housing Trust Fund and creating an affordable housing tax credit. Riegel explained the tax credit would help spur additional housing development.

"It would allow for the state to add more units through this tool that will build upon current programs that already exist, but take them to the next level," Riegel noted. "We know with what we have today is not enough. So it's now time that we have to add new items."

Recent data from the personal finance company NerdWallet shows Cleveland, along with Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania are the only two cities in the nation ranked as affordable for first-time homebuyers.

Reporting by Ohio News Connection in association with Media in the Public Interest and funded in part by the George Gund Foundation.