[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2829 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2829

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, and supportive and 
other services, including assistance in accessing non-homeless specific 
             benefits and services, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 22, 2004

 Mr. Allard (for himself and Mrs. Dole) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
                           and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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, and 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:

                   ``Subtitle H--Samaritan Initiative

``SEC. 495. PURPOSE.

    ``The purpose of this subtitle is to authorize competitive grants 
for coordinated comprehensive housing, treatment, and support services 
to chronically homeless persons--
            ``(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; and
            ``(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. DEFINITIONS.

    ``For purposes of this subtitle, the following definitions shall 
apply:
            ``(1) Chronically homeless person.--The term `chronically 
        homeless person' means an unaccompanied individual with a 
        disabling condition who--
                    ``(A) has been sleeping in 1 or more places not 
                meant for human habitation, or in 1 or more emergency 
                homeless shelters, for longer than 1 year; or
                    ``(B) has had 4 or more periods of homelessness 
                that, in total, have lasted more than 3 years.
            ``(2) Disabling condition.--The term `disabling condition' 
        means a diagnosable substance use disorder, serious mental 
        illness, developmental disability, or chronic physical illness 
        or disability, including the co-occurrence of 2 or more of such 
        conditions, that limits the ability of an individual to work or 
        perform one or more activities of daily living.
            ``(3) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a 
        State, unit of general local government, public housing agency, 
        local workforce investment board, or private nonprofit 
        organization, including a faith-based or community-based 
        organization.
            ``(4) Eligible veteran.--The term `eligible veteran' means 
        a person who served in the active United States military, 
        naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released under 
        conditions other than dishonorable.
            ``(5) 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) compiles information on the characteristics 
                and service needs of homeless individuals.
            ``(6) Homelessness.--The term `homelessness' means sleeping 
        in a place not meant for human habitation or in an emergency 
        homeless shelter.
            ``(7) Interagency implementation and monitoring team.--The 
        term `interagency implementation and monitoring team' means the 
        interagency implementation and monitoring team established 
        under section 495B(d).
            ``(8) Participating federal agency.--The term 
        `participating Federal agency' means the Departments 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 the benefit 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.

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

    ``(a) In General.--The participating Federal agencies shall enter 
into a cooperative agreement 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 the provision of housing for chronically homeless 
persons.
    ``(b) Delegations.--No provision of this subtitle shall limit 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 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall coordinate with the 
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 
the award of grants, and the use of grant funds awarded under this 
subtitle. Each participating Federal agency shall appoint appropriate 
designees to serve on the interagency implementation and monitoring 
team.
    ``(e) Coordination Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out this subtitle, the 
        interagency implementation and monitoring team shall, as 
        appropriate and to the extent feasible, establish uniform or 
        coordinated requirements, standards, procedures, and timetables 
        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 the award of grants;
                    ``(C) a coordinated process for review and the 
                approval or denial of the consolidated application;
                    ``(D) the 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) such other factors that the interagency 
                implementation and monitoring team determines are 
                necessary or appropriate.
            ``(2) Performance assessment.--
                    ``(A) In general.--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--
                            ``(i) to determine whether a grantee has 
                        carried out its activities in a timely manner 
                        and in accordance with the applicable 
                        requirements of this subtitle;
                            ``(ii) to assess the effectiveness of a 
                        grantee in accomplishing the objectives of this 
                        subtitle; and
                            ``(iii) for other purposes as the 
                        interagency implementation and monitoring team 
                        determines significant with respect to the 
                        performance assessment of a grantee.
                    ``(B) Provision of support and staff.--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 the 
                Department of Veterans Affairs for the cost of such 
                staff and services.
    ``(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 them 
        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, activities relating to the 
        housing, treatment, and support of homeless persons, which may 
        include the following:
                    ``(A) Housing activities.--Eligible activities 
                specified in section 495C(a) that ensure the placement 
                of chronically homeless persons in safe, affordable, 
                permanent housing.
                    ``(B) Treatment and support activities.--Eligible 
                activities specified in section 495D(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 495C(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.--In awarding grants under 
        this subtitle, the participating Federal agencies shall 
        consider--
                    ``(A) the extent to which the applicant 
                demonstrates an understanding of the unique 
                characteristics of chronically homeless persons;
                    ``(B) the adequacy of the approach of the applicant 
                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 achieve the reduction in the number 
                of chronically homeless persons; and
                    ``(G) such additional factors as the participating 
                Federal agencies may determine significant or necessary 
                with respect to the potential success of the applicant 
                in carrying out the purposes of this subtitle.
            ``(4) Initial term of grant.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, each grant awarded under this section shall 
        be for an initial term of 3 years.
            ``(5) Grant renewal.--Upon the expiration of a grant under 
        this section, the participating Federal agencies may award, on 
        a competitive basis, a renewal grant under this subtitle for an 
        additional 3-year term, subject to the continued qualification 
        of the grantee 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 activities 
        to be carried out by the grantee.
            ``(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--
                            ``(i) 75 percent of the cost of the program 
                        for the first year of the grant;
                            ``(ii) 75 percent for the second year of 
                        the grant; and
                            ``(iii) 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)  Fiscal year 2005.--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) Not more than $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) Fiscal years 2006, 2007, and 2008.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subtitle 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 this 
        subtitle, and in accordance with the agreement under subsection 
        (a), the participating Federal agencies are authorized to 
        transfer to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
        funds appropriated for use under this subtitle, and the 
        Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may receive such 
        funds.
            ``(2) Rule of construction.--Notwithstanding subsection 
        (g), in the event that 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, not more than 2 
percent of amounts appropriated for the activities under this subtitle 
may be used by the participating Federal agencies for administrative 
costs, including costs associated with--
            ``(1) providing technical assistance to applicants and 
        grantees; and
            ``(2) providing support and assistance in selecting and 
        assessing projects to carry out this subtitle, including any 
        preparation necessary for such selection and assessment.

``SEC. 495C. HOUSING ACTIVITIES.

    ``(a) Eligible Housing Activities.--Subject to section 495B, 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, and 
        administered in the manner provided under the rules and 
        regulations governing the provision of assistance 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 for 
                chronically homeless persons that are acquired or 
                rehabilitated with grant amounts under this subtitle is 
                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 
                section 495B(e), the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
                Development may prescribe such terms and conditions as 
                the 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. 495D. TREATMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES.

    ``Subject to section 495B, 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, or 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. 495E. VETERANS' BENEFITS.

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

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

    ``Federal agencies other than the participating Federal agencies 
may participate in the grant program established under this subtitle to 
the extent that funds are appropriated for such purpose to each 
agency.''.
                                 <all>