[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5561 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5561

      To provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 8, 2006

Mr. Andrews (for himself and Mr. Renzi) introduced the following bill; 
   which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in 
addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs and Ways and Means, for 
a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
      To provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.

    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 ``Homes for Heroes Act''.

SEC. 2. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES.

    (a) Purpose.--The purposes of this section are--
            (1) to expand the supply of permanent housing for very low-
        income veteran families; and
            (2) to provide supportive services through such housing to 
        support the needs of such veteran families.
    (b) Authority.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
shall, to the extent amounts are made available for assistance under 
this section and the Secretary receives approvable applications for 
such assistance, provide assistance to private nonprofit organizations 
and consumer cooperatives to expand the supply of supportive housing 
for very low-income veteran families. Such assistance shall be 
available for use to plan for and finance the construction, 
reconstruction, or moderate or substantial rehabilitation of a 
structure or a portion of a structure, or the acquisition of a 
structure, to be used as supportive housing for very low-income veteran 
families in accordance with this section. Assistance may also cover the 
cost of real property acquisition, site improvement, conversion, 
demolition, relocation, and other expenses that the Secretary 
determines are necessary to expand the supply of supportive housing for 
very low-income veteran families.
    (c) Forms of Assistance.--Assistance under this section shall be 
made available in the following forms:
            (1) Planning grants.--Assistance may be provided as a grant 
        for costs of planning a project to be used as supportive 
        housing for very low-income veteran families.
            (2) Capital advances.--Assistance may be provided as 
        capital advance under this paragraph for a project, which 
        shall--
                    (A) bear no interest;
                    (B) not be required to be repaid so long as the 
                housing remains available for occupancy by very low-
                income veteran families in accordance with this 
                section; and
                    (C) be in an amount calculated in accordance with 
                the development cost limitation established pursuant to 
                subsection (h).
            (3) Project rental assistance.--Assistance may be provided 
        as project rental assistance, under an annual contract that--
                    (A) obligates the Secretary to make monthly 
                payments to cover any part of the costs attributed to 
                units occupied (or, as approved by the Secretary, held 
                for occupancy) by very low-income veteran families that 
                is not met from project income;
                    (B) provides for the project not more than the sum 
                of the initial annual project rentals for all units so 
                occupied and any initial utility allowances for such 
                units, as approved by the Secretary;
                    (C) any contract amounts not used by a project in 
                any year shall remain available to the project until 
                the expiration of the contract;
                    (D) provides that the Secretary shall, to the 
                extent appropriations for such purpose are available, 
                adjust the annual contract amount if the sum of the 
                project income and the amount of assistance payments 
                available under this paragraph are inadequate to 
                provide for reasonable project costs.
    (d) Tenant Rent Contribution.--A very low-income veteran family 
shall pay as rent for a dwelling unit assisted under this section the 
highest of the following amounts, rounded to the nearest dollar:
            (1) 30 percent of the veteran family's adjusted monthly 
        income.
            (2) 10 percent of the veteran family's monthly income.
            (3) If the veteran family is receiving payments for welfare 
        assistance from a public agency and a part of such payments, 
        adjusted in accordance with the veteran family's actual housing 
        costs, is specifically designated by such agency to meet the 
        veteran family's housing costs, the portion of such payments 
        which is so designated.
    (e) Term of Commitment.--
            (1) Use limitations.--All units in housing assisted under 
        this section shall be made available for occupancy by very low-
        income veteran families for not less than 15 years.
            (2) Contract terms.--The initial term of a contract entered 
        into under subsection (c)(2) shall be 60 months. The Secretary 
        shall, to the extent approved in appropriation Acts, extend any 
        expiring contract for a term of not less than 12 months. In 
        order to facilitate the orderly extension of expiring 
        contracts, the Secretary may make commitments to extend 
        expiring contracts during the year prior to the date of 
        expiration.
    (f) Applications.--Amounts made available under this section shall 
be allocated by the Secretary among approvable applications submitted 
by private nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives. 
Applications for assistance under this section shall be submitted by an 
applicant in such form and in accordance with such procedures as the 
Secretary shall establish. Such applications shall contain--
            (1) a description of the proposed housing;
            (2) a description of the assistance the applicant seeks 
        under this section;
            (3) a description of (A) the supportive services to be 
        provided to the persons occupying such housing; (B) the manner 
        in which such services will be provided to such persons, 
        including, in the case of frail elderly persons (as such term 
        is defined in section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 
        1701q)), evidence of such residential supervision as the 
        Secretary determines is necessary to facilitate the adequate 
        provision of such services; and (C) the public or private 
        sources of assistance that can reasonably be expected to fund 
        or provide such services;
            (4) a certification from the public official responsible 
        for submitting a housing strategy for the jurisdiction to be 
        served in accordance with section 105 of the Cranston-Gonzalez 
        National Affordable Housing Act that the proposed project is 
        consistent with the approved housing strategy; and
            (5) such other information or certifications that the 
        Secretary determines to be necessary or appropriate to achieve 
        the purposes of this section.
The Secretary shall not reject an application on technical grounds 
without giving notice of that rejection and the basis therefor to the 
applicant and affording the applicant an opportunity to respond.
    (g) Selection Criteria.--The Secretary shall establish selection 
criteria for assistance under this section, which shall include--
            (1) criteria based upon--
                    (A) the ability of the applicant to develop and 
                operate the proposed housing;
                    (B) the need for supportive housing for very low-
                income veteran families in the area to be served;
                    (C) the extent to which the proposed size and unit 
                mix of the housing will enable the applicant to manage 
                and operate the housing efficiently and ensure that the 
                provision of supportive services will be accomplished 
                in an economical fashion;
                    (D) the extent to which the proposed design of the 
                housing will meet the physical needs of very low-income 
                veteran families;
                    (E) the extent to which the applicant has 
                demonstrated that the supportive services identified 
                pursuant to subsection (f)(4) will be provided on a 
                consistent, long-term basis;
                    (F) the extent to which the proposed design of the 
                housing will accommodate the provision of supportive 
                services that are expected to be needed, either 
                initially or over the useful life of the housing, by 
                the very low-income veterans the housing is intended to 
                serve; and
                    (G) such other factors as the Secretary determines 
                to be appropriate to ensure that funds made available 
                under this section are used effectively;
            (2) a preference in such selection for applications 
        proposing housing to be reserved for occupancy by very low-
        income veteran families who are homeless (as such term is 
        defined in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302); and
            (3) criteria appropriate to consider the need for 
        supportive housing for very low-income veteran families in 
        nonmetropolitan areas and by Indian tribes.
    (h) Provision of Supportive Services to Veteran Families.--
            (1) In general.--In carrying out the provisions of this 
        section, the Secretary shall ensure that housing assisted under 
        this section provides a range of services tailored to the needs 
        of the very low-income veteran families occupying such housing, 
        which may include services for--
                    (A) outreach;
                    (B) health (including counseling, mental health, 
                substance abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder) 
                diagnosis and treatment;
                    (C) habilitation and rehabilitation;
                    (D) case management;
                    (E) daily living;
                    (F) personal financial planning;
                    (G) transportation;
                    (H) vocation;
                    (I) employment and training;
                    (J) education;
                    (K) assistance in obtaining veterans benefits and 
                public benefits, including health and medical care 
                provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs;
                    (L) assistance in obtaining income support;
                    (M) assistance in obtaining health insurance;
                    (N) fiduciary and representative payee;
                    (O) legal aid;
                    (P) child care;
                    (Q) housing counseling;
                    (R) service coordination; and
                    (S) other services necessary for maintaining 
                independent living.
            (2) Local coordination of services.--The Secretary shall 
        ensure that owners of housing assisted under this section have 
        the managerial capacity to--
                    (A) assess on an ongoing basis the service needs of 
                residents;
                    (B) coordinate the provision of supportive services 
                and tailor such services to the individual needs of 
                residents; and
                    (C) seek on a continuous basis new sources of 
                assistance to ensure the long-term provision of 
                supportive services.
        Any cost associated with this subsection shall be an eligible 
        cost under subsections (c)(3) and (i).
    (i) Financial Assistance for Services.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, 
        to the extent amounts are available for assistance under this 
        subsection pursuant to subsection (o)(2), provide financial 
        assistance for the provision of supportive services, and for 
        coordinating the provision of such services, to very low-income 
        veteran families occupying housing assisted under this section. 
        Such assistance shall be made through payments to owners of 
        such housing for each resident of the housing based on the 
        formula established under paragraph (2).
            (2) Formula.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        establish a formula to determine the rate of the payments to be 
        provided under this subsection. The formula shall determine a 
        rate for each resident of the housing assisted under this 
        section (which shall be adjusted not less than annually to take 
        into consideration changes in the cost of living).
    (j) Development Cost Limitations.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall periodically establish 
        development cost limitations by market area for various types 
        and sizes of supportive housing for very low-income veteran 
        families by publishing a notice of the cost limitations in the 
        Federal Register. The cost limitations shall reflect--
                    (A) the cost of construction, reconstruction, or 
                moderate or substantial rehabilitation of supportive 
                housing for very low-income veteran families that meets 
                applicable State and local housing and building codes;
                    (B) the cost of movables necessary to the basic 
                operation of the housing, as determined by the 
                Secretary;
                    (C) the cost of special design features necessary 
                to make the housing accessible to very low-income 
                veteran families;
                    (D) the cost of congregate space necessary to 
                accommodate the provision of supportive services to 
                veteran families;
                    (E) if the housing is newly constructed, the cost 
                of meeting the energy efficiency standards promulgated 
                by the Secretary in accordance with section 109 of the 
                Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act; and
                    (F) the cost of land, including necessary site 
                improvement.
        In establishing development cost limitations for a given market 
        area under this subsection, the Secretary shall use data that 
        reflect currently prevailing costs of construction, 
        reconstruction, or moderate or substantial rehabilitation, and 
        land acquisition in the area. For purposes of this paragraph, 
        the term ``congregate space'' shall include space for 
        cafeterias or dining halls, community rooms or buildings, child 
        care centers, workshops, adult day health facilities, or other 
        outpatient health facilities, or other essential service 
        facilities. Neither this section nor any other provision of law 
        may be construed as prohibiting or preventing the location and 
        operation, in a project assisted under this section, of 
        commercial facilities for the benefit of residents of the 
        project and the community in which the project is located, 
        except that assistance made available under this section may 
        not be used to subsidize any such commercial facility.
            (2) Acquisition.--In the case of existing housing and 
        related facilities to be acquired, the cost limitations shall 
        include--
                    (A) the cost of acquiring such housing,
                    (B) the cost of rehabilitation, alteration, 
                conversion, or improvement, including the moderate or 
                substantial rehabilitation thereof, and
                    (C) the cost of the land on which the housing and 
                related facilities are located.
            (3) Annual adjustments.--The Secretary shall adjust the 
        cost limitation not less than annually to reflect changes in 
        the general level of construction, reconstruction, and moderate 
        and substantial rehabilitation costs.
            (4) Incentives for savings.--
                    (A) Special housing account.--The Secretary shall 
                use the development cost limitations established under 
                paragraph (1) or (2) to calculate the amount of 
                financing to be made available to individual owners. 
                Owners which incur actual development costs that are 
                less than the amount of financing shall be entitled to 
                retain 50 percent of the savings in a special housing 
                account. Such percentage shall be increased to 75 
                percent for owners which add energy efficiency features 
                which--
                            (i) exceed the energy efficiency standards 
                        promulgated by the Secretary in accordance with 
                        section 109 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National 
                        Affordable Housing Act;
                            (ii) substantially reduce the life-cycle 
                        cost of the housing;
                            (iii) reduce gross rent requirements; and
                            (iv) enhance tenant comfort and 
                        convenience.
                    (B) Uses.--The special housing account established 
                under subparagraph (A) may be used (i) to provide 
                services to residents of the housing or funds set aside 
                for replacement reserves, or (ii) for such other 
                purposes as determined by the Secretary.
            (5) Design flexibility.--The Secretary shall, to the extent 
        practicable, give owners the flexibility to design housing 
        appropriate to their location and proposed resident population 
        within broadly defined parameters.
            (6) Use of funds from other sources.--An owner shall be 
        permitted voluntarily to provide funds from sources other than 
        this section for amenities and other features of appropriate 
        design and construction suitable for supportive housing under 
        this section if the cost of such amenities is (A) not financed 
        with the advance, and (B) is not taken into account in 
        determining the amount of Federal assistance or of the rent 
        contribution of tenants. Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, assistance amounts provided under this section may be 
        treated as amounts not derived from a Federal grant.
    (k) Tenant Selection.--
            (1) In general.--An owner shall adopt written tenant 
        selection procedures that are satisfactory to the Secretary as 
        (A) consistent with the purpose of improving housing 
        opportunities for very low-income veteran families; and (B) 
        reasonably related to program eligibility and an applicant's 
        ability to perform the obligations of the lease. Such tenant 
        selection procedures shall comply with subtitle C of title VI 
        of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 and any 
        regulations issued under such subtitle. Owners shall promptly 
        notify in writing any rejected applicant of the grounds for any 
        rejection.
            (2) Information regarding housing.--The Secretary shall 
        provide, to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary 
        of Labor, information regarding the availability of the housing 
        assisted under this section. Within 30 days of receipt of the 
        information, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of 
        Labor shall provide such information to agencies in the area of 
        the housing that receive assistance from the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor for providing 
        medical care, housing, supportive services or employment and 
        training services to homeless veterans.
    (l) Miscellaneous Provisions.--
            (1) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall make 
        available appropriate technical assistance to ensure that 
        prospective applicants and owners are able to participate more 
        fully in the program carried out under this section.
            (2) Civil rights compliance.--Each owner shall certify, to 
        the satisfaction of the Secretary, that assistance made 
        available under this section will be conducted and administered 
        in conformity with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 
        the Fair Housing Act, and other Federal, State, and local laws 
        prohibiting discrimination and promoting equal opportunity.
            (3) Owner deposit.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary shall require an 
                owner of housing assisted under this section to deposit 
                an amount not to exceed $15,000 in a special escrow 
                account to ensure the owner's commitment to the 
                housing.
                    (B) Reduction of requirement.--The Secretary may 
                reduce or waive the owner deposit specified under 
                paragraph (3) for individual applicants if the 
                Secretary finds that such waiver or reduction is 
                necessary to achieve the purposes of this section and 
                the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the 
                Secretary that it has the capacity to manage and 
                maintain the housing in accordance with this section. 
                The Secretary shall reduce or waive the requirement of 
                the owner deposit under paragraph (3) in the case of a 
                nonprofit applicant that is not affiliated with a 
                national sponsor, as determined by the Secretary.
            (4) Notice of appeal.--The Secretary shall notify an owner 
        not less than 30 days prior to canceling any reservation of 
        assistance provided under this section. During the 30-day 
        period following the receipt of a notice under the preceding 
        sentence, an owner may appeal the proposed cancellation. Such 
        appeal, including review by the Secretary, shall be completed 
        not later than 45 days after the appeal is filed.
            (5) Labor.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary shall take such 
                action as may be necessary to ensure that all laborers 
                and mechanics employed by contractors and 
                subcontractors in the construction of housing with 12 
                or more units assisted under this section shall be paid 
                wages at rates not less than the rates prevailing in 
                the locality involved for the corresponding classes of 
                laborers and mechanics employed on construction of a 
                similar character, as determined by the Secretary of 
                Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 31 of 
                title 40, United States Code.
                    (B) Exemption.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to 
                any individual who--
                            (i) performs services for which the 
                        individual volunteered;
                            (ii)(I) does not receive compensation for 
                        such services; or
                            (II) is paid expenses, reasonable benefits, 
                        or a nominal fee for such services; and
                            (iii) is not otherwise employed at any time 
                        in the construction work.
            (6) Access to residual receipts.--The Secretary shall 
        authorize the owner of a housing project assisted under this 
        section to use any residual receipts held for the project in 
        excess of $500 per unit (or in excess of such other amount 
        prescribed by the Secretary based on the needs of the project) 
        for activities to retrofit and renovate the project described 
        under section 802(d)(3) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National 
        Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8011(d)(3)) or to provide 
        supportive services to residents of the project. Any owner that 
        uses residual receipts under this paragraph shall submit to the 
        Secretary a report, not less than annually, describing the uses 
        of the residual receipts. In determining the amount of project 
        rental assistance to be provided to a project under subsection 
        (c)(3) of this section, the Secretary may take into 
        consideration the residual receipts held for the project only 
        if, and to the extent that, excess residual receipts are not 
        used under this paragraph.
            (7) Occupancy standards and obligations.--Each owner shall 
        operate housing assisted under this section in compliance with 
        subtitle C of title VI of the Housing and Community Development 
        Act of 1992 (relating to standards and obligations of 
        residency) and any regulations issued under such subtitle.
            (8) Use of project reserves.--Amounts for project reserves 
        for a project assisted under this section may be used for 
        costs, subject to reasonable limitations as the Secretary 
        determines appropriate, for reducing the number of dwelling 
        units in the project. Such use shall be subject to the approval 
        of the Secretary to ensure that the use is designed to retrofit 
        units that are currently obsolete or unmarketable.
    (m) Definitions.--
            (1) Consumer cooperative.--The term ``consumer 
        cooperative'' has the same meaning given such term for purposes 
        of the supportive housing for the elderly program under section 
        202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q).
            (2) Very low-income veteran family.--The term ``very low-
        income veteran family'' means a veteran family whose income 
        does not exceed 50 percent of the median income for the area, 
        as determined by the Secretary with adjustments for smaller and 
        larger families, except that the Secretary may establish income 
        ceiling higher or lower than 50 percent of the median for the 
        area on the basis of the Secretary's findings that such 
        variations are necessary because of prevailing levels of 
        construction costs or fair market rents (as determined under 
        section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
        1437f), or unusually high or low family incomes.
            (3) Owner.--The term ``owner'' means a private nonprofit 
        organization or consumer cooperative that receives assistance 
        under this section to develop and operate supportive housing 
        for very low-income veteran families.
            (4) Private nonprofit organization.--The term ``private 
        nonprofit organization'' means--
                    (A) any incorporated private institution or 
                foundation--
                            (i) no part of the net earnings of which 
                        inures to the benefit of any member, founder, 
                        contributor, or individual;
                            (ii) which has a governing board that is 
                        responsible for the operation of the housing 
                        assisted under this section; and
                            (iii) which is approved by the Secretary as 
                        to financial responsibility;
                    (B) a for-profit limited partnership the sole 
                general partner of which is an organization meeting the 
                requirements under clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of 
                subparagraph (A);
                    (C) a corporation wholly owned and controlled by an 
                organization meeting the requirements under clauses 
                (i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A); and
                    (D) a tribally designated housing entity, as such 
                term is defined in section 4 of the Native American 
                Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 
                (25 U.S.C. 4103).
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Housing and Urban Development, except where specifically 
        provided otherwise.
            (6) State.--The term ``State'' includes the several States, 
        the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and 
        the possessions of the United States.
            (7) Supportive housing for very low-income veteran 
        families.--The term ``supportive housing for very low-income 
        veteran families'' means housing that is designed to 
        accommodate the provision of supportive services that are 
        expected to be needed, either initially or over the useful life 
        of the housing, by the veteran families that the housing is 
        intended to serve.
            (8) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given 
        the term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
            (9) Veteran family.--The term ``veteran family'' includes a 
        veteran who is a single person, a family (including families 
        with children) whose head of household (or whose spouse) is a 
        veteran, and one or more veterans living together with one or 
        more persons.
    (n) Allocation of Funds.--Of any amounts made available for 
assistance under this section:
            (1) Planning grants.--Not more than 2.5 percent shall be 
        made available for planning grants in accordance with 
        subsection (c)(1).
            (2) Capital advances.--Such sums as may be necessary shall 
        be made available for capital advances in accordance with 
        subsection (c)(2).
            (3) Project rental assistance.--Such sums as may be 
        necessary shall be made available for project rental assistance 
        in accordance with subsection (c)(3).
            (4) Technical assistance.--Not more than 1 percent shall be 
        made available for technical assistance in accordance with 
        subsection (l)(1).
    (o) Funding.--
            (1) Authorization of appropriations for housing 
        assistance.--There is authorized to be appropriated for 
        assistance under this section $200,000,000 (not including 
        financial assistance under subsection (i)) for fiscal year 2007 
        and such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year 
        thereafter.
            (2) Set aside of veterans medical services amounts for 
        supportive services.--Of any amounts made available in 
        appropriation Acts for fiscal year 2007 and each fiscal year 
        thereafter to the Department of Veterans Affairs for medical 
        services for veterans, there shall be available for financial 
        assistance under subsection (i) of this section in each such 
        year such sums as may be necessary to provide payments under 
        subsection (i) for such fiscal year, at the full rate under the 
        formula established pursuant to such subsection, for each 
        resident of each housing project assisted under this section.

SEC. 3. HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.

    Section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
1437f(o)) is amended by striking paragraph (19) and inserting the 
following new paragraph:
            ``(19) Rental vouchers for homeless veterans.--
                    ``(A) Set aside.--Subject to subparagraph (C), the 
                Secretary shall set aside and transfer to the Secretary 
                of Veterans Affairs, from amounts made available for 
                rental assistance under this subsection, the amount 
                specified in subparagraph (B) for use only for 
                providing such assistance for homeless veterans.
                    ``(B) Amount.--The amount specified in this 
                subparagraph is, for each fiscal year, the amount 
                necessary to provide at least 20,000 vouchers for 
                rental assistance under this subsection.
                    ``(C) Administration of voucher program.--The 
                Secretary of Veterans Affairs may use amounts 
                transferred under this paragraph only for funding 
                contracts for rental assistance under this paragraph to 
                be administered by entities that receive grants under 
                section 2011 or 2012 of title 38, United States Code. 
                Subject only to the availability of amounts for rental 
                assistance under this paragraph, the Secretary of 
                Veterans Affairs shall provide, under each such 
                contract for rental assistance with such an entity, 
                funding for the entity to provide at least two vouchers 
                for rental assistance for each unit of transitional 
                housing being made available by the entity at such 
                time.
                    ``(D) Funding.--The budget authority made available 
                under any other provisions of law for rental assistance 
                under this subsection for fiscal year 2007 and each 
                fiscal year thereafter is authorized to be increased in 
                each such fiscal year by such sums as may be necessary 
                to provide the number of vouchers specified in 
                subparagraph (B) for such fiscal year.''.

SEC. 4. INCLUSION OF VETERANS IN HOUSING PLANNING.

    (a) Public Housing Agency Plans.--Section 5A(d)(1) of the United 
States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437c-1(d)) is amended by 
striking ``and disabled families'' and inserting ``, disabled families, 
and veterans (as such term is defined in section 101 of title 38, 
United States Code)''.
    (b) Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategies.--
            (1) In general.--Section 105 of the Cranston-Gonzalez 
        National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12705) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ``veterans 
                (as such term is defined in section 101 of title 38, 
                United States Code),'' after ``acquired 
                immunodeficiency syndrome,'';
                    (B) in subsection (b)(20), by striking ``and 
                service'' and inserting ``veterans service and other 
                service''; and
                    (C) in subsection (e)(1), by inserting ``veterans 
                (as such term is defined in section 101 of title 38, 
                United States Code),'' after ``homeless persons,''.
            (2) Consolidated plans.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
        Development shall revise the regulations relating to submission 
        of consolidated plans (24 C.F.R. Part 91) in accordance with 
        the amendments made by paragraph (1) of this subsection to 
        require inclusion of appropriate information relating to 
        veterans and veterans service agencies in all such plans.

SEC. 5. EXCLUSION OF VETERANS BENEFITS FROM ASSISTED HOUSING RENT 
              CONSIDERATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for 
purposes of determining the amount of rent paid by a family for 
occupancy of a dwelling unit assisted under a federally assisted 
housing program under subsection (b) or in housing assisted under a 
federally assisted housing program, the income and the adjusted income 
of the family shall not be considered to include any amounts received 
by any member of the family from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as--
            (1) compensation, as defined in section 101(13) of title 
        38, United States Code;
            (2) dependency and indemnity compensation, as defined in 
        section 101(14) of such title; and
            (3) pension, as defined in section 101(15) of such title.
    (b) Federally Assisted Housing Program.--The federally assisted 
housing programs under this subsection are--
            (1) the public housing program under the United States 
        Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.);
            (2) the tenant-based rental assistance program under 
        section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
        1437f), including the program under subsection (o)(19) of such 
        section for housing rental vouchers for low-income veteran 
        families;
            (3) the project-based rental assistance program under 
        section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
        1437f);
            (4) the program for housing opportunities for persons with 
        AIDS under subtitle D of title VIII of the Cranston-Gonzalez 
        National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12901 et seq.);
            (5) the supportive housing for the elderly program under 
        section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q);
            (6) the supportive housing for persons with disabilities 
        program under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National 
        Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013);
            (7) the supportive housing for the homeless program under 
        subtitle C of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11381 et seq.);
            (8) the program for moderate rehabilitation of single room 
        occupancy dwellings for occupancy by the homeless under section 
        441 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
        11401);
            (9) the shelter plus care for the homeless program under 
        subtitle F of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11403 et seq.);
            (10) the supportive housing for very low-income veteran 
        families program under section 2 of this Act;
            (11) the rental assistance payments program under section 
        521(a)(2)(A) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 
        1490a(a)(2)(A);
            (12) the rental assistance program under section 236 of the 
        National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715z-1);
            (13) the rural housing programs under section 515 and 538 
        of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485, 1490p-2);
            (14) the HOME investment partnerships program under title 
        II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 
        U.S.C. 12721 et seq.);
            (15) the block grant programs for affordable housing for 
        Native Americans and Native Hawaiians under titles I through IV 
        and VIII of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-
        Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4111 et seq., 4221 et 
        seq.);
            (16) the low-income housing tax credit program under 
        section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 42); 
        and
            (17) any other program for housing assistance administered 
        by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or the 
        Secretary of Agriculture under which eligibility for occupancy 
        in the housing assisted or for housing assistance is based upon 
        income.

SEC. 6. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR 
              VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
shall, to the extent amounts are made available in appropriation Acts 
for grants under this section, make grants to eligible entities under 
subsection (b) to provide, to nonprofit organizations, technical 
assistance appropriate to assist such organizations in--
            (1) sponsoring housing projects for veterans assisted under 
        programs administered by the Department of Housing and Urban 
        Development;
            (2) fulfilling the planning and application processes and 
        requirements necessary under such programs administered by the 
        Department; and
            (3) assisting veterans in obtaining housing or homeless 
        assistance under programs administered by the Department.
    (b) Eligible Entities.--An eligible entity under this subsection is 
a nonprofit entity or organization having such expertise as the 
Secretary shall require in providing technical assistance to providers 
of services for veterans.
    (c) Selection of Grant Recipients.--The Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development shall establish criteria for selecting applicants for 
grants under this section to receive such grants and shall select 
applicants based upon such criteria.
    (d) Funding.--Of any amounts made available in fiscal year 2007 or 
any fiscal year thereafter to the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development for salaries and expenses, $1,000,000 shall be available, 
and shall remain available until expended, for grants under this 
section.

SEC. 7. ANNUAL REPORT ON HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than December 31 of each year, the 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall submit to the 
Committees on Financial Services, Veterans' Affairs, and Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Banking, Housing, 
and Urban Affairs, Veterans' Affairs, and Appropriations of the Senate 
a report on the activities relating to veterans of the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development during such year.
    (b) Contents.--Each report required under subsection (a) shall 
include the following information with respect to the year for which 
the report is submitted:
            (1) The number of very low-income veteran families provided 
        assistance under the program of supportive housing for very 
        low-income veteran families under section 2 of this Act, the 
        socioeconomic characteristics of such families, the types of 
        assistance provided such families, and the number, types, and 
        locations of owners of housing assisted under such section.
            (2) The number of homeless veterans provided assistance 
        under the program of housing choice vouchers for homeless 
        veterans under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing 
        Act of 1937 (as added by section 3 of this Act), the 
        socioeconomic characteristics of such homeless veterans, and 
        the number, types, and locations of entities contracted under 
        such section to administer the vouchers.
            (3) A summary description of the special considerations 
        made for veterans under public housing agency plans submitted 
        pursuant to section 5A of the United States Housing Act of 1937 
        and under comprehensive housing affordability strategies 
        submitted pursuant to section 105 of the Cranston-Gonzalez 
        National Affordable Housing Act.
            (4) A description of the technical assistance provided to 
        organizations pursuant to grants under section 6 of this Act.
            (5) A description of the activities of the Special 
        Assistant for Veterans Affairs.
            (6) A description of the efforts of the Department of 
        Housing and Urban Development to coordinate the delivery of 
        housing and services to veterans with other Federal departments 
        and agencies, including the Department of Defense, Department 
        of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human 
        Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, Interagency Council 
        on Homelessness, and the Social Security Administration.
            (7) The cost to the Department of Housing and Urban 
        Development of administering the programs and activities 
        relating to veterans.
            (8) Any other information that the Secretary considers 
        relevant in assessing the programs and activities relating to 
        veterans of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
    (c) Assessment of Housing Needs of Very Low-Income Veteran 
Families.--
            (1) In general.--For the first report submitted pursuant to 
        subsection (a) and every fifth report thereafter, the Secretary 
        of Housing and Urban Development shall--
                    (A) conduct an assessment of the housing needs of 
                very low-income veteran families (as such term is 
                defined for purposes of section 2; and
                    (B) shall include in each such report findings 
                regarding such assessment.
            (2) Content.--Each assessment under this subsection shall 
        include--
                    (A) conducting a survey of, and direct interviews 
                with, a representative sample of very low-income 
                veteran families (as such term is defined for purposes 
                of section 2) to determine past and current--
                            (i) socioeconomic characteristics of such 
                        veteran families;
                            (ii) barriers to such veteran families 
                        obtaining safe, quality, and affordable 
                        housing;
                            (iii) levels of homelessness among such 
                        veteran families;
                            (iv) levels and circumstances of, and 
                        barriers to, receipt by such veteran families 
                        of rental housing and homeownership assistance;
                    (B) such other information that the Secretary 
                determines, in consultation with the Secretary of 
                Veterans Affairs and national nongovernmental 
                organizations concerned with veterans, homelessness, 
                and very low-income housing, may be useful to the 
                assessment.
            (3) Conduct.--If the Secretary contracts with an entity 
        other than the Department of Housing and Urban Development to 
        conduct the assessment under this subsection, such entity shall 
        be a non-governmental organization determined by the Secretary 
        to have appropriate expertise in quantitative and qualitative 
        social science research.
            (4) Funding.--Of any amounts made available pursuant to 
        section 501 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 
        (42 U.S.C. 1701z-1) for programs of research, studies, testing, 
        or demonstration relating to the mission or programs of the 
        Department of Housing and Urban Development for any fiscal year 
        in which an assessment under this subsection is required 
        pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, $1,000,000 shall 
        be available until expended for costs of the assessment under 
        this subsection.

SEC. 8. SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS IN OFFICE OF SECRETARY 
              OF HUD.

    (a) In General.--Section 4 of the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development Act (42 U.S.C. 3533) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
    ``(f) Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--There shall be in the Department a 
        Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs, who shall be in the 
        Office of the Secretary.
            ``(2) Appointment.--The Special Assistant for Veterans 
        Affairs shall be appointed based solely on merit and shall be 
        covered under the provisions of title 5, United States Code, 
        governing appointments in the competitive service.
            ``(3) Responsibilities.--The Special Assistant for Veterans 
        Affairs shall be responsible for--
                    ``(A) ensuring veterans have access to housing and 
                homeless assistance under each program of the 
                Department providing either such assistance;
                    ``(B) coordinating all programs and activities of 
                the Department relating to veterans;
                    ``(C) serving as a liaison for the Department, and 
                establishing and maintaining relationships with, 
                officials of State, local, regional, and 
                nongovernmental organizations concerned with veterans;
                    ``(D) providing information and advice regarding--
                            ``(i) sponsoring housing projects for 
                        veterans assisted under programs administered 
                        by the Department; or
                            ``(ii) assisting veterans in obtaining 
                        housing or homeless assistance under programs 
                        administered by the Department;
                    ``(E) administering the technical assistance grants 
                program under section 6 of the Homes for Heroes Act;
                    ``(F) preparing the annual report under section 7 
                of such Act; and
                    ``(G) carrying out such other duties as may be 
                assigned to the Special Assistant by the Secretary or 
                by law.''.
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