Legislation authored by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar that will expand outreach and services to homeless veterans was signed into law Monday.

The bill strengthens an existing program that provides chronically homeless veterans with housing vouchers and case management services, such as help accessing counseling and job training, according to a statement released Monday.

The number of homeless veterans in Minnesota reached an all-time high at nearly 700 in 2009, with the number of homeless women veterans more than double what it was just three years previous, according to Wilder Research. About 14 percent of all homeless people are veterans, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

“When we ask our men and women to fight and sacrifice in defense of our nation, we make a promise that we’re going to give them the support they need when they come home,” Klobuchar said in a statement.

The legislation received bipartisan support and was endorsed by 27 veterans’ and social-service organizations, including the VFW and the American Legion.