Wis. representatives respond to displacement of Tomah VA veterans

TOMAH, Wis. (WKBT) — Representatives in Washington are looking into the Tomah VA’s decision to no longer offer temporary housing to those in the Veterans Assistance Foundation program.

The VAF program allows homeless veterans to get back on their feet by giving them a place to stay on the campus of the Tomah VA while they look for permanent housing.

As we told you earlier this week, the VA recently told the veterans in the program they have to vacate the facility by mid-January.

Today, Senator Ron Johnson sent a letter to the acting director of the Tomah VA Medical Center asking why they cancelled the lease with the VAF.

Representative Ron Kind also met with acting director Victoria Brahm Thursday. Kind says she assured them that all of the veterans in the program will have a place to go.

“They assured me that no veteran is going to be kicked out in the cold without a proper place to be, and they’re going to stay focused on what’s in the best long term interests of these veterans with the wrap-around care that many of them need so they can make a successful transition to reintegrate back with the community again,” says Kind.

Kind says the VA will work with the VAF to find the best options for the affected veterans.

The two will look for veteran housing options across the state, including possibly here in La Crosse.