New law to help Columbus military veterans facing foreclosure keep their homes
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, met with local military veterans and elected officials Wednesday in Columbus as he celebrated a new law aimed at helping veterans facing foreclosure keep their homes.
Ossoff also discussed other opportunities for bipartisan legislation in Washington, D.C.
The VA Home Loan Program Reform Act will help veterans who have fallen behind on their VA home loan mortgage payments move missed payments to the back of their loan term to avoid immediate foreclosure.
President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan bill into law July 30.
This comes after Ossoff urged the Trump Administration to reverse its decision to shut down the Veterans Affairs Serving Purchase (VASP) Program, which helped veterans facing foreclosure.
Republicans and Democrats worked together to pass this legislation, Ossoff said during Wednesday’s news conference outside the Heritage Tower in Columbus.
“Something I always think is important to remember is that these are not handouts or giveaways,” Ossoff said. “These are services and benefits that veterans have earned through their defense of the United States. These are veterans who put their lives on the line and dedicated years of their lives, and their spouses and their families made tremendous sacrifices to defend the nation.”
There’s a crisis of veteran homelessness in the United States, Ossoff said, and the idea that veterans who utilized the VA Home Loan Program could become homeless is unacceptable.
Helping veterans move their missed payments to the end of their loan is vitally important, Pat Frey, vice president of Home for Good at the United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, said while speaking after Ossoff at the news conference.
“When we look at the number of veterans who are experiencing all other kinds of issues, having this community and having a home makes it easier to deal with the other issues,” Frey said.
Frey’s family benefited from having access to a VA loan, she said. Her father, who was a combat veteran, bought a home with Frey’s mother through a VA loan. After his death, her mother kept the home with “no fallout,” Frey said.
“That touched me, partially, and I know it touched many of those in my community,” Frey said. “It will continue to leave a legacy.”
LaKesha Stringer, past commander of American Legion Post 35, thanked Ossoff for his part in getting the bill passed. Stringer commended Ossoff for working across the aisle to help with issues affecting veterans.
“As a three-time combat veteran, I must say that I am grateful,” she said. “I am humbled. I am honored. As a once-homeless veteran, I must say thank you, sir.”
No veteran should be hungry, homeless or unnoticed, Stringer said.
“It is important for us to remember not to look at someone as this party or that party — but to look at everyone as neighbors,” she said.
This new law is vital in Columbus because of the local movement to reduce homelessness, Columbus Councilor Bruce Huff of District 3 told the Ledger-Enquirer.
The city has made it a priority to cut poverty in half over the next decade, Huff said, and this new law also could help reduce homeless encampments.
“We want to keep the veterans in their homes so they don’t become homeless on the street,” he said. “I think this particular bill will give them what they need, as far as keeping them in and not putting them out, because the economy is tough for a lot of people now.”
Along with Huff, Mayor Pro Tem Gary Allen and Councilor Charmaigne Crabb or District 5 also attended Ossoff’s news conference. Retired state Rep. Calvin Smyre, D-Columbus, and state Rep. Carolyn Hugley, D-Columbus, also attended.
Ossoff sees other opportunities for more bipartisan legislation in Washington despite divisive politics. These issues include helping foster children in Georgia who have been abused and mistreated, supporting survivors and victims of domestic abuse and supporting veterans.
“I will continue reaching out across the aisle to my Republican colleagues to find common ground,” Ossoff said.
This story was originally published August 21, 2025 at 2:15 PM.
