VAC introduces Semper Fi housing aid, flags federal bills affecting veterans
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Summary
The LaSalle County Veterans Assistance Commission described a new Semper Fi housing program to prevent veteran evictions, announced a newly hired VSO and urged attention to state and federal bills including a multi‑county VAC proposal and concerns over the federal Choice Act and Elizabeth Dole Act implementation.
Krista, the Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) representative, told the committee the VAC has contracted with a new Semper Fi program that helps veterans at risk of eviction by covering rent startup and short‑term housing costs. "It just kind of offsets the cost for county funds and our other grants that we work with as well," Krista said.
The VAC also announced a new veterans service officer (VSO). Krista said Jordan Sigulus, an Army veteran, started as VSO that day and the office expects him to help veterans obtain benefits and increase access to services.
Alyssa, a VAC staff member, summarized legislation the VAC is monitoring. She said a state bill to allow multi‑county VACs to partner with circuit courts (referred to as Senate Bill 3646 during discussion) could help counties with limited VAC budgets. "Some of their budgets even going beyond the 0 2% only sits at a very, like, under a 100,000, which is hard to pay somebody," Alyssa said, arguing multi‑county arrangements would be beneficial for smaller southern counties.
Alyssa and Krista also raised concerns about federal proposals. They described a federal Choice Act that, as explained in the meeting, could weaken protections against "claim sharks" who charge veterans for services VACs provide for free; they said Illinois law already prohibits such practices but federal enforcement is limited. "It would make it where the Choice Act would allow them to keep doing it," Alyssa said.
The VAC speakers reported success in advocacy over a separate VA interim rule that would have rated veterans based on how well medication worked for them. Krista said state and national advocacy and submitted witness slips led the VA to remove the proposal from consideration. "So right now, the VA has taken pulling that off the table," she said.
The committee approved VAC bills and routine VAC motions by voice vote during the meeting; the transcript records the voice approval but does not include a roll‑call tally.
What’s next: Krista said the VAC will continue monitoring related state and federal bills, pursue changes to its financial assistance language to include spouses, and finalize standard operating procedures for VAC staff.
