The Maine House of Representatives sent a bill to committee January 21 that would direct federal and state veterans’ agencies to develop a portable housing voucher for low-income or homeless veterans.

The legislation, co-sponsored by Rep. Mick Devin, D-Newcastle, will be heard and debated by the Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee in the coming weeks. The committee oversees the Maine State House Authority, which administers housing vouchers.

“Veterans often come home from overseas and find it hard to transition back to everyday life,” Devin said. “No veteran deserves to go without a roof over his or her head.”

Currently, many state and federal agencies share the administration of housing vouchers. Veterans often face a myriad of confusing rules and regulations on what they can and cannot do with their housing vouchers.  

There will be a public hearing on the bill in the coming weeks.