[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4057 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4057

To establish a grant program administered under an agreement among the 
    Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human 
     Services, and Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the U.S. 
  Interagency Council on Homelessness, to address the goal of ending 
 chronic homelessness through coordinated provision of housing, health 
care, mental health and substance abuse treatment, supportive and other 
   services, including assistance in accessing non-homeless specific 
             benefits and services, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 30, 2004

Mr. Renzi (for himself, Mrs. Northup, Mr. Shays, Mr. Ney, Mr. Simmons, 
   Mr. Pickering, Mr. Tiberi, Ms. Pryce of Ohio, Mr. Matheson, Mrs. 
 Johnson of Connecticut, Mr. Capuano, and Mr. Reynolds) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial 
                                Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish a grant program administered under an agreement among the 
    Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human 
     Services, and Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the U.S. 
  Interagency Council on Homelessness, to address the goal of ending 
 chronic homelessness through coordinated provision of housing, health 
care, mental health and substance abuse treatment, supportive and other 
   services, including assistance in accessing non-homeless specific 
             benefits and services, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Samaritan Initiative Act of 2004''.

SEC. 2. SAMARITAN INITIATIVE.

     Title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
11136 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subtitle:

                   ``Subtitle H--Samaritan Initiative

``SEC. 495. PURPOSE.

    ``The purpose of the Samaritan Initiative is to authorize 
competitive grants for coordinated comprehensive housing, treatment, 
and support services to chronically homeless persons to accomplish the 
following objectives:
            ``(1) To reduce the prevalence of chronic homelessness.
            ``(2) To support promising strategies to move chronically 
        homeless persons in urban and rural communities from the 
        streets to safe, permanent housing.
            ``(3) To provide for integrated systems of services to 
        improve the effectiveness of programs serving chronically 
        homeless persons.
            ``(4) To promote self-sufficiency and recovery among 
        chronically homeless persons.
            ``(5) To encourage programs serving chronically homeless 
        persons to promote access to Federal, State, and local non-
        homeless specific programs of assistance for which such persons 
        are eligible.

``SEC. 495A. GRANT AUTHORITY AND ADMINISTRATION.

    ``(a) In General.--The participating Federal agencies shall enter 
into an agreement among the agencies to make and administer competitive 
grants to eligible entities, including faith-based and community-based 
organizations, in accordance with the provisions of this subtitle for 
the purpose of providing treatment and support services that are 
coordinated with housing for chronically homeless persons.
    ``(b) Administrative Responsibility.--
            ``(1) In general.--The agreement authorized under 
        subsection (a) shall designate the Secretary of Housing and 
        Urban Development as the administering Secretary.
            ``(2) Delegations.--No provision of this subtitle shall be 
        construed as limiting the ability of the participating Federal 
        agencies to delegate, assign, or share administrative 
        responsibilities as the participating Federal agencies may 
        determine to be necessary or appropriate.
    ``(c) Coordination Among Participating Federal Agencies.--The 
administering Secretary shall coordinate with other participating 
Federal agencies to implement and administer the grant program 
established under this subtitle.
    ``(d) Interagency Implementation and Monitoring Team.--The 
participating Federal agencies shall establish an interagency 
implementation and monitoring team to review and conduct oversight of 
program grantees under this subtitle. Each participating Federal agency 
shall appoint appropriate designees to serve on the implementation and 
monitoring team.
    ``(e) Coordination Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out the grant program under 
        this subtitle, the interagency implementation and monitoring 
        team shall establish uniform or coordinated requirements, 
        standards, procedures, and timetables to the maximum extent 
        feasible and appropriate.
            ``(2) Applicability.--The general principle set forth in 
        paragraph (1) shall be implemented by the interagency 
        implementation and monitoring team with respect to--
                    ``(A) application procedures and grant 
                requirements, including those providing for--
                            ``(i) a single consolidated application 
                        form; and
                            ``(ii) a single timetable, location, and 
                        procedure for filing of a consolidated 
                        application;
                    ``(B) criteria for award of grants;
                    ``(C) a coordinated process for review and approval 
                or denial of the consolidated application;
                    ``(D) establishment of performance standards and 
                measures of performance outcomes, including--
                            ``(i) the requirement that the Secretary of 
                        Housing and Urban Development attempt to 
                        quantify the reduction in chronic homelessness; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) the requirement that, where 
                        applicable, the grantees utilize a Homeless 
                        Management Information System;
                    ``(E) oversight, including monitoring, audits, and 
                evaluations of grantees, and requirements for annual 
                reports by grantees; and
                    ``(F) other factors that the interagency 
                implementation and monitoring team determines are 
                necessary or appropriate.
            ``(3) Performance assessment.--
                    ``(A) Subject to paragraph (1), the interagency 
                implementation and monitoring team shall establish such 
                performance standards, performance measures, and annual 
                reporting requirements and make such performance 
                reviews and audits as may be necessary or appropriate 
                for the following purposes:
                            ``(i) To determine whether a grantee has 
                        carried out its activities in a timely manner 
                        and in accordance with applicable requirements 
                        of this subtitle.
                            ``(ii) To assess the effectiveness of a 
                        grantee in accomplishing the objectives of this 
                        subtitle.
                            ``(iii) Other such purposes as the 
                        interagency implementation and monitoring team 
                        may deem significant with respect to the 
                        performance assessment of a grantee.
                    ``(B) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may provide 
                program monitoring and evaluation services and staff to 
                participating Federal agencies. In such cases, 
                participating Federal agencies may reimburse such 
                Secretary, as appropriate.
    ``(f) Provisions and Requirements Applicable to Grants Under This 
Subtitle.--
            ``(1) In general.--A grantee under this subtitle shall 
        establish and operate a system of assistance to chronically 
        homeless persons that identifies such persons and provides to 
        such persons access to affordable permanent housing that is 
        coordinated with appropriate treatment and support.
            ``(2) Required grantee activities.--A grantee under this 
        subtitle shall carry out, directly or through arrangements with 
        a network of other entities, the following:
                    ``(A) Housing activities.--Eligible activities 
                specified in section 495B(a) that ensure the placement 
                of chronically homeless persons in safe, affordable, 
                permanent housing.
                    ``(B) Treatment and support activities.--Eligible 
                activities specified in section 495C(a) to address the 
                multiple physical health, mental health, and substance 
                abuse treatment needs of chronically homeless persons 
                who are eligible for or residents in housing under 
                section 495B(a).
                    ``(C) Service coordination.--Activities, including 
                those coordinated with local planning bodies, that 
                promote the access of eligible chronically homeless 
                persons to a range of services that contribute to self-
                sufficiency, recovery, employment, stability in 
                housing, and access to health care.
                    ``(D) Administration.--Administrative and planning 
                activities, including the development and 
                implementation of comprehensive plans for housing and 
                services at the grantee level with costs not to exceed 
                6 percent of total costs of carrying out the program 
                under this subtitle.
                    ``(E) Other services.--Such services and activities 
                as the participating Federal agencies may find 
                necessary and appropriate.
            ``(3) Criteria for grant award.--The criteria for the award 
        of grants under this subtitle shall include the following:
                    ``(A) The extent to which the applicant 
                demonstrates an understanding of the unique 
                characteristics of chronically homeless persons.
                    ``(B) The adequacy of the applicant's approach in 
                addressing the needs of the chronically homeless.
                    ``(C) The capacity of the applicant to carry out 
                and sustain required activities.
                    ``(D) Where services are to be provided through a 
                network of entities, the adequacy of the qualifications 
                of such entities and the stated willingness of such 
                entities to collaborate and participate in carrying out 
                proposed activities.
                    ``(E) The extent to which the applicant has been 
                involved in Federal, State, or local non-homeless 
                specific programs of assistance that could provide 
                additional assistance to eligible chronically homeless 
                persons.
                    ``(F) The commitment and the demonstrated ability 
                of the applicant to enumerate the reduction in the 
                number of chronically homeless persons.
                    ``(G) Such additional criteria as the participating 
                Federal agencies may deem significant or necessary with 
                respect to the applicant's potential success in 
                carrying out the purpose of this subtitle.
            ``(4) Initial term of grant.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, each grant shall be for an initial term of 3 
        years.
            ``(5) Grant renewal.--The participating Federal agencies 
        may award on a competitive basis a renewal grant under this 
        subtitle for additional 3-year terms, subject to the grantee's 
        continued qualification for the grant as determined by the 
        participating Federal agencies. The amount of a renewal grant 
        under this paragraph may be up to 50 percent of the cost of the 
        program.
            ``(6) Federal matching.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A grant under this subtitle 
                shall be available to pay the Federal share of the 
                costs incurred by the grantee for activities under this 
                subtitle.
                    ``(B) Federal share.--For purposes of subparagraph 
                (A), the Federal share shall be 75 percent of the cost 
                of the program for the first year of the grant, 75 
                percent for the second year, and 50 percent for each 
                succeeding year, including each year of a renewal grant 
                term under paragraph (5).
                    ``(C) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of 
                costs incurred by the grantee may be in cash or in-
                kind, as appropriate.
            ``(7) Geographic distribution.--The participating Federal 
        agencies shall ensure that consideration is given to geographic 
        distribution (such as urban and rural areas) in the awarding of 
        grants under subsection (a).
            ``(8) Disclosure.--Section 12(a) of the Department of 
        Housing and Urban Development Act (42 U.S.C. 3537a(a)) shall 
        not apply to this subtitle.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            ``(1) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
        this subtitle $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, of which--
                    ``(A) $50,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated 
                to the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
                    ``(B) $10,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated 
                to the Department of Health and Human Services; and
                    ``(C) Up to $10,000,000 is authorized from the 
                amounts to be appropriated to the Department of 
                Veterans Affairs for treatment of homeless veterans 
                under Medical Care to carry out section 495D.
            ``(2) There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
        may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2006, 2007, and 2008.
    ``(h) Authority to Consolidate Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of carrying out the program 
        under this subtitle, in accordance with the agreement under 
        subsection (a), the participating Federal agencies are 
        authorized to transfer to the administering Secretary funds 
        appropriated for use under this subtitle, and the administering 
        Secretary may receive such funds.
            ``(2) Construction.--In the event that, notwithstanding 
        subsection (g), funds are not appropriated for use in 
        accordance with this subtitle to one or more participating 
        Federal agencies in any fiscal year, paragraph (1) shall not be 
        construed to require a participating Federal agency that has 
        been provided with budget authority pursuant to subsection (g) 
        in a fiscal year to use such budget authority to fund grants 
        for activities that are not in accordance with the primary 
        mission of such participating Federal agency.
    ``(i) Technical Assistance and Support.--In addition to funds 
otherwise provided for agency administrative costs, up to 2 percent of 
amounts appropriated for the activities under this subtitle may be used 
by the participating Federal agencies for administrative costs, 
including to--
            ``(1) provide technical assistance to applicants and 
        grantees; and
            ``(2) provide support and assistance in selecting and 
        assessing projects to carry out the purpose of this subtitle, 
        including any preparation necessary for such selection and 
        assessment.

``SEC. 495B. HOUSING ACTIVITIES.

    ``(a) Eligible Housing Activities.--Subject to the provisions of 
section 495A, a grant under this subtitle shall be used for activities 
in support of permanent housing for chronically homeless persons, 
including the following:
            ``(1) Provision of housing.--
                    ``(A) Acquisition.--The acquisition of occupancy-
                ready real property.
                    ``(B) Rehabilitation.--The minor rehabilitation of 
                real property for housing.
                    ``(C) Operating costs.--The costs of operating a 
                housing project, including salaries and benefits, 
                maintenance, insurance, utilities, replacement reserve 
                accounts, and furnishings.
                    ``(D) Leasing.--Leasing of an existing structure or 
                structures, or portions thereof to provide housing.
                    ``(E) Housing counseling.--The costs of counseling 
                and advice services with respect to property 
                maintenance, financial management, and other such 
                matters as may be appropriate to assist chronically 
                homeless persons in obtaining housing.
            ``(2) Rental assistance.--Project-based or tenant-based 
        rental assistance for chronically homeless persons, which 
        assistance shall be provided to the extent practicable in the 
        manner provided under section 8 of the United States Housing 
        Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f).
            ``(3) Other activities.--Such other activities as the 
        Secretary of Housing and Urban Development determines to be 
        appropriate.
    ``(b) Program Requirements for Housing Activities.--
            ``(1) Requirements concerning real property.--
                    ``(A) Use restriction.--Each grantee under this 
                subtitle shall ensure that permanent housing projects 
                for chronically homeless persons that are acquired or 
                rehabilitated with grant amounts under this subtitle 
                are used for such persons for not less than 10 years.
                    ``(B) Housing quality.--Each grantee under this 
                subtitle shall ensure that housing assisted with grant 
                amounts provided under this subtitle is decent, safe, 
                and sanitary and complies with all applicable State and 
                local housing codes, building codes, and licensing 
                requirements in the jurisdiction in which the housing 
                is located.
                    ``(C) Prevention of undue benefit.--Subject to the 
                provisions of section 495A(e), the Secretary of Housing 
                and Urban Development may prescribe such terms and 
                conditions as such Secretary considers necessary to 
                prevent grantees from unduly benefiting from the sale 
                or other disposition of projects, other than a sale or 
                other disposition resulting in the use of a project for 
                the direct benefit of chronically homeless persons.
            ``(2) Homeless management information system.--Each grantee 
        shall be required to provide such information to the 
        appropriate administrator of the local homeless management 
        information system, as is necessary for the implementation and 
        operation of homeless management information systems.

``SEC. 495C. TREATMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES.

    ``Subject to the provision of section 495A, a grant under this 
subtitle shall be used to provide treatment and support services, which 
may include the following:
            ``(1) Primary health services.--Primary health services, 
        including the following:
                    ``(A) Physician and other services.--Health 
                services related to family medicine, internal medicine, 
                pediatrics, obstetrics, or gynecology that are 
                furnished by physicians and where appropriate, 
                physicians' assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurse 
                midwives.
                    ``(B) Diagnostic services.--Diagnostic laboratory 
                and radiological services.
                    ``(C) Preventive services.--Preventive health 
                services.
                    ``(D) Emergency services.--Emergency medical 
                services.
                    ``(E) Access to pharmaceutical services.--Access to 
                pharmaceutical services.
            ``(2) Alcohol and drug abuse services.--Services or 
        activities designed to prevent, deter, reduce, or eliminate 
        substance abuse or addictive behaviors, including a 
        comprehensive range of personal and family counseling methods, 
        early interventions, methadone treatment for opiate abusers, or 
        detoxification for alcohol and other drug abusers, and 
        treatment services such as intake and assessment, behavioral 
        therapy and counseling, clinical and case management, 
        pharmacotherapies, and self-help and peer support activities.
            ``(3) Mental health and counseling services.--Mental health 
        and counseling services, including services and activities that 
        apply therapeutic processes to personal, family, or situational 
        problems in order to bring about a positive resolution of the 
        problem or improved individual functioning or circumstances, 
        including crisis interventions, individual supportive therapy, 
        and prescription of psychotropic medications or explanations 
        about the use and management of medications.
            ``(4) Outreach and engagement.--Outreach services including 
        extending services or help to homeless persons to develop a 
        relationship of trust and engage such persons into appropriate 
        service programs.
            ``(5) Information and referral.--Services or activities 
        designed to provide information about services and assistance 
        provided through public and private programs, including 
        Federal, State and local non-homeless targeted programs that 
        provide or financially support the provision of medical, 
        social, educational, or other related services, and a brief 
        assessment of client needs to facilitate appropriate referrals.
            ``(6) Case management.--Case management services and 
        activities, including the arrangement, coordination, 
        monitoring, and delivery of services to meet the needs of 
        individuals who are homeless, including individual service plan 
        development, counseling, monitoring, securing and coordinating 
        services.
            ``(7) Other services.--Such other services as the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services determines appropriate.

``SEC. 495D. VETERANS' BENEFITS.

    ``Subject to the provisions of section 495A, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs is authorized to provide eligible veterans with case 
management services.

``SEC. 495E. AUTHORITY OF OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES TO PARTICIPATE UNDER 
              THIS SUBTITLE.

    ``Federal agencies, in addition to the Secretaries of Housing and 
Urban Development, Health and Human Services, and Veterans Affairs, may 
participate under the provisions of this subtitle to the extent funds 
are appropriated to each agency for purposes of participating under the 
provisions of this subtitle.

``SEC. 495F. DEFINITIONS.

    ``For purposes of this subtitle, the following definitions shall 
apply--
            ``(1) Administering secretary.--The term `administering 
        Secretary' shall mean the Secretary designated as responsible 
        for administration of the grant program under this subtitle by 
        the agreement authorized in section 495A(a).
            ``(2) Chronically homeless person.--The term `chronically 
        homeless person' means an unaccompanied disabled individual who 
        has been sleeping in one or more places not meant for human 
        habitation or in one or more emergency homeless shelters for 
        over one year or who has had four or more periods of 
        homelessness over three years.
            ``(3) Disabled individual.--The term `disabled individual' 
        means an individual whose ability to work or perform one or 
        more activities of daily living is limited due to--
                    ``(A) a diagnosable substance use disorder, serious 
                mental illness, developmental disability, or chronic 
                physical illness or disability; or
                    ``(B) the co-occurrence of two or more of these 
                conditions.
            ``(4) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a 
        State, unit of general local government, public housing agency, 
        local workforce investment board and private nonprofit 
        organization, including a faith-based or community-based 
        organization.
            ``(5) Eligible veteran.--The term `eligible veteran' means 
        a person who served in the active military, naval, or air 
        service, and who was discharged or released under conditions 
        other than dishonorable.
            ``(6) Homeless management information system.--The term 
        `Homeless Management Information System' shall mean a 
        computerized data collection application maintained by an 
        eligible entity, that--
                    ``(A) enumerates the homeless population within the 
                jurisdiction of the eligible entity and the number of 
                homeless individuals that received services from the 
                eligible entity; and
                    ``(B) captures information on the characteristics 
                and service needs of homeless individuals.
            ``(7) Interagency implementation and monitoring team.--The 
        term `interagency implementation and monitoring team' shall 
        mean a group of representatives appointed by each participating 
        Federal agency, which shall coordinate among each other in 
        implementing the provisions of this subtitle in accordance with 
        subsection 495A(d) and which shall coordinate the review and 
        oversight of program grantees under this subtitle.
            ``(8) Participating federal agency.--The term 
        `participating Federal agency' shall mean the Secretaries of 
        Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, and 
        Veterans Affairs, or any other Federal agency that may receive 
        appropriations for purposes of participating under the 
        provisions of this subtitle.
            ``(9) Private nonprofit organization.--The term `private 
        nonprofit organization' means a private organization--
                    ``(A) no part of the net earnings of which inures 
                to benefits of any member, founder, contributor, or 
                individual;
                    ``(B) that has a voluntary board; and
                    ``(C) that has an accounting system or a designated 
                fiscal agent in accordance with requirements 
                established by the participating Federal agencies.
            ``(10) Public housing agency.--The term `public housing 
        agency' has the same meaning as in section 3(b)(6) of the 
        United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(6)).
            ``(11) State.--The term `State' means any State of the 
        United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
        Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the 
        Northern Mariana Islands, or any agency or instrumentality 
        thereof that is established pursuant to legislation and 
        designated by the chief executive officer to act on behalf of 
        the State with regard to provisions of this subtitle.
            ``(12) Unit of general local government.--The term `unit of 
        general local government' means--
                    ``(A) a city, town, township, county, parish, 
                village, or other general purpose political subdivision 
                of a State; and
                    ``(B) any agency or instrumentality thereof that is 
                established pursuant to legislation and designated by 
                the chief executive officer to act on behalf of the 
                jurisdiction with regard to provisions of this 
                subtitle.''.
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