UNION, N.J. (PIX11) — Once an Army combat medic, Frank “Doc” Schupp does all he can for New Jersey’s veterans.

Years ago, it was he who needed the help, while homeless and living with PTSD.“Life was scary,” said Schupp. “You never knew what was going to happen next.”

For an entire year, he lived what he describes as couch surfing.

“It’s confusing,” said Schupp. “You’re not sure what programs are going to be helping you out. Sometimes you reach out to some programs, and they won’t reach back. Then you’ll have some programs that will try their best, but they just don’t have the ability to be able to help.”

Today, as part of New Jersey Veterans Network, he helps dozens of other vets a month who’ve been in his shoes. Like other vets, he’s hoping to see one state program continue its mission to end veteran homelessness.

“It will be a lot easier for veterans to come through and say, ‘hey, this is a thing, I need help, please help me,'” said Schupp.

An initiative was launched by the Murphy administration in 2024 called Bringing Veterans Home.

Its purpose is create rapid access to housing with the goal of effectively ending veteran homelessness.

Now, State lawmakers on both sides of the aisle want to protect the future of BVH, authoring a bill to codify the program into law.

“There’s no reason that someone who wore the uniform of our country should ever sleep in a car or on a park bench or on a friend’s couch or on the street,” said Sen. Troy Singleton (D-NJ 7th District). “I think my colleagues on both sides of the aisle believe in that, recognize that, and are working in partnership to try to make sure we have a solid state policy that prevents that going forward.”

“It’s a statement to the nation, to our young people, to our young generations that we prioritize our servicemen and women,” said Assemblywoman Aura Dunn (R-NJ 25th District). “We have a respect for the uniform.”

Veteran leaders around the State say the program has been positive.

“They’ve been able to help over 1,600 veterans get housing or some type of form of resource to let them live a better way of life,” said Michael Boll, President of NJ Veterans Network.

“We’re really shooting for functional zero [homeless] with veterans in the State, and I think we’ve put a really nice dent in it,” said David Pearson of Catholic Charities Paterson, which works with BVH.

The bill is set to be discussed in committee on Thursday.

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