1.This Act may be cited as
the Comprehensive Homeless Veterans
Assistance and Prevention Act of 2006
.
2.Reaffirmation of
National goal to end homelessness among veterans
(a)Congress
reaffirms the national goal to end chronic homelessness among veterans within a
decade of the enactment of the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act
of 2001 (Public Law 107–95; 115 Stat. 903).
(b)Reaffirmation
of encouragement of cooperative effortsCongress reaffirms its
encouragement, as specified in the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance
Act of 2001 (Public Law 107–95; 115 Stat. 903), that all departments and
agencies of the Federal, State, and local governments, quasi-governmental
organizations, private and public sector entities, including community-based
organizations, faith-based organizations, and individuals, work cooperatively
to end chronic homelessness among veterans.
3.Sense of
Congress on the response of the Federal Government to the needs of homeless
veteransIt is the sense of
Congress that—
(1)homelessness is a
significant problem in the veterans community, and veterans are
disproportionately represented among homeless men;
(2)while many
effective programs assist homeless veterans to become, once again, productive
and self-sufficient members of their communities and society, all the essential
services, assistance, and support that homeless veterans require are not
currently provided;
(3)federally funded
programs for homeless veterans should be held accountable for achieving clearly
defined results;
(4)Federal efforts
to assist homeless veterans should include prevention of homelessness;
(5)Federal efforts
regarding homeless veterans should be particularly vigorous where women
veterans have minor children in their care;
(6)Federal agencies,
particularly the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Labor, and
the Department of Housing and Urban Development, should cooperate more fully to
address the problem of homelessness among veterans; and
(7)the programs
reauthorized by this Act provide important housing and services to homeless
veterans.
4.Permanent
authority to make grants for comprehensive service programs for homeless
veterans
(a)Section 2011(a) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended—
(1)by striking
paragraph (2); and
(2)in paragraph
(1)—
(A)by striking
(1)
; and
(B)by redesignating
subparagraphs (A) through (D) as paragraphs (1) through (4),
respectively.
(b)Authorization
of appropriationsThe text of section 2013 of such title is
amended to read as follows: There are authorized to be appropriated, to
carry out this subchapter, $130,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 and each fiscal
year thereafter.
.
5.Extension of
treatment and rehabilitation for seriously mentally ill and homeless
veterans
(a)Extension of
authority for general treatmentSection 2031(b) of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by striking 2006
and inserting
2011
.
(b)Extension of
authority for additional servicesSection 2033(d) of such title
is amended by striking 2006
and inserting
2011
.
6.Extension of
authority for transfer of properties obtained through foreclosure of home
mortgagesSection 2041(c) of
title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking 2008
and
inserting 2011
.
7.Extension of
funding for grant program for homeless veterans with special
needsSection 2061(c)(1) of
title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking 2003, 2004, and
2005, $5,000,000
and inserting 2007 through 2011,
$7,000,000
.
8.Extension of
funding for homeless veteran service provider technical assistance
programSubsection (b) of
section 2064 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as
follows:
(b)Authorization of
appropriationsThere are
authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through
2012 to carry out the program under this
section.
.
9.Additional
element in annual report on assistance to homeless veteransSection 2065(b) of title 38, United States
Code, is amended—
(1)by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph
(6); and
(2)by inserting
after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph (5):
(5)Information on the efforts of the
Secretary to coordinate the delivery of housing and services to homeless
veterans with other Federal departments and agencies, including—
(A)the Department of Defense;
(B)the Department of Health and Human
Services;
(C)the Department of Housing and Urban
Development;
(D)the Department of Justice;
(E)the Department of Labor;
(F)the Interagency Council on
Homelessness;
(G)the Social Security Administration;
and
(H)any other Federal department or
agency with which the Secretary coordinates the delivery of housing and
services to homeless
veterans.
.
10.Advisory
committee on homeless veterans
(a)Additional ex
officio membersSubsection (a)(3) of section 2066 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
subparagraphs:
(E)The Executive
Director of the Interagency Council on Homelessness (or a representative of the
Executive Director).
(F)The Under
Secretary for Health (or a representative of the Under Secretary after
consultation with the Director of the Office of Homeless Veterans
Programs).
(G)The Under
Secretary for Benefits (or a representative of the Under Secretary after
consultation with the Director of the Office of Homeless Veterans
Programs).
.
(b)Subsection
(d) of such section is amended by striking December 31, 2006
and
inserting September 30, 2011
.
11.Rental
assistance vouchers for Veterans Affairs supported housing program
(a)Section
(8)(o)(19)(B) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437f(o)(19)(B)) is amended to read as follows:
(B)The amount
specified in this subparagraph is—
(i)for fiscal year 2007, the amount
necessary to provide 500 vouchers for rental assistance under this
subsection;
(ii)for fiscal year 2008, the amount
necessary to provide 1,000 vouchers for rental assistance under this
subsection;
(iii)for fiscal year 2009, the amount
necessary to provide 1,500 vouchers for rental assistance under this
subsection;
(iv)for fiscal year 2010, the amount
necessary to provide 2,000 vouchers for rental assistance under this
subsection; and
(v)for fiscal year 2011, the amount
necessary to provide 2,500 vouchers for rental assistance under this
subsection.
.
(b)Elimination of
funding through incremental assistanceSubparagraph (C) of
section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (19 U.S.C.
1437f(o)(19)(C)) is repealed.
(c)Study of
effectiveness of vouchers
(1)For fiscal years 2007 and 2008, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall conduct a study of the effectiveness of the voucher program under
section (8)(o)(19)(B) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437f(o)(19)(B)), as amended by subsection (a), in meeting the housing and case
management needs of homeless veterans who—
(A)have a chronic
mental illnesses or chronic substance use disorder; and
(B)are participating
in continuing treatment for such mental illness or substance use disorder as a
condition of receipt of such rental assistance.
(2)As
part of the study required by paragraph (1) the Secretary shall compare the
results of the program described in that paragraph with other programs as
follows:
(A)Programs in which
the Department of Veterans Affairs coordinates the delivery of housing and
services to homeless veterans.
(B)Programs for the
provision of grants or per diem payments to providers of services that are
designed to meet the needs of homeless veterans.
(3)In
conducting the comparison required by paragraph (2), the Secretary shall
examine the following:
(A)The satisfaction
of veterans targeted by the programs described in paragraph (2).
(B)The health status
of such veterans.
(C)For programs that
address substance use disorders, the reduction in severity of such disorders in
such veterans.
(D)The housing
provided such veterans under such programs.
(E)The degree to
which such veterans are encouraged to productive activity by such
programs.
(4)Not
later than March 31, 2009, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
House of Representatives a report on the results of the study required by
paragraph (1).
12.Financial assistance
for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent
housing
(a)The purpose of this section is to
facilitate the provision of supportive services for very low-income veteran
families in permanent housing.
(b)
(1)Subchapter V of
chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
2044.Financial
assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in
permanent housing
(a)Distribution of
financial assistance(1)The Secretary shall
provide financial assistance to eligible entities approved under this section
to provide and coordinate the provision of supportive services described in
subsection (b) for very low-income veteran families occupying permanent
housing.
(2)Financial assistance under this
section shall consist of per diem payments for each such family for which an
approved eligible entity is providing or coordinating the provision of
supportive services.
(3)(A)Subject to the
availability of appropriations provided for such purpose, the Secretary shall
provide to each family for which an approved eligible entity is providing or
coordinating the provision of supportive services per diem payments in the
amount of the daily cost of care estimated by such eligible entity (as adjusted
by the Secretary under subparagraph (C)).
(B)In no case may the amount of per diem
paid under this paragraph exceed the rate of per diem authorized for State
homes for domiciliary care under subsection (a)(1)(A) of section 1741 of this
title, as adjusted by the Secretary under subsection (c) of such
section.
(C)The Secretary may adjust the daily
cost of care estimated by an eligible entity for purposes of this paragraph to
exclude other sources of income described in subparagraph (E) that the eligible
entity certifies to be correct.
(D)Each eligible entity shall provide to
the Secretary such information with respect to other sources of income as the
Secretary may require to make the adjustment under subparagraph (C).
(E)The other sources of income referred
to in subparagraphs (C) and (D) are payments to the eligible entity for
furnishing services to homeless veterans under programs other than under this
subchapter, including payments and grants from other departments and agencies
of the Federal Government, from departments or agencies of State or local
government, and from private entities or organizations.
(4)In providing financial assistance
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give preference to entities providing
or coordinating the provision of supportive services for very low-income
veteran families who are transitioning from homelessness to permanent
housing.
(5)The Secretary shall ensure that, to
the extent practicable, financial assistance under this subsection is equitably
distributed across geographic regions, including rural communities and tribal
lands.
(6)Each entity receiving financial
assistance under this section to provide supportive services to a very
low-income veteran family shall notify that family that such services are being
paid for, in whole or in part, by the Department.
(7)The Secretary may require entities
receiving financial assistance under this section to submit a report to the
Secretary that describes the projects carried out with such financial
assistance.
(b)The supportive services referred to in subsection (a)
are the following:
(1)Services provided
by an eligible entity or subcontractors that address the needs of very
low-income veteran families occupying permanent housing, including—
(A)outreach
services;
(B)health care
services, including diagnosis, treatment, and counseling for mental health and
substance abuse disorders and for post-traumatic stress disorder, if such
services are not readily available through the Department medical center
serving the geographic area in which the veteran family is housed;
(C)habilitation and
rehabilitation services;
(D)case management
services;
(E)daily living
services;
(F)personal
financial planning;
(G)transportation
services;
(H)vocational
counseling;
(I)employment and
training;
(J)educational
services;
(K)assistance in
obtaining veterans benefits and other public benefits, including health care
provided by the Department;
(L)assistance in
obtaining income support;
(M)assistance in
obtaining health insurance;
(N)fiduciary and
representative payee services;
(O)legal services to
assist the veteran family with reconsiderations or appeals of veterans and
public benefit claim denials and to resolve outstanding warrants that interfere
with the family's ability to obtain or retain housing or supportive
services;
(P)child
care;
(Q)housing
counseling;
(R)other services
necessary for maintaining independent living; and
(S)coordination of
services under this paragraph.
(2)Services
described in paragraph (1) that are delivered to very low-income veteran
families who are homeless and who are scheduled to become residents of
permanent housing within 90 days pending the location or development of housing
suitable for permanent housing.
(3)Services
described in paragraph (1) for very low-income veteran families who have
voluntarily chosen to seek other housing after a period of tenancy in permanent
housing, that are provided, for a period of 90 days after such families exit
permanent housing or until such families commence receipt of other housing
services adequate to meet their current needs, but only to the extent that
services under this paragraph are designed to support such families in their
choice to transition into housing that is responsive to their individual needs
and preferences.
(c)Application for
financial assistance(1)An eligible entity
seeking financial assistance under subsection (a) shall submit an application
to the Secretary in such form, in such manner, and containing such commitments
and information as the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this
section.
(2)Each application submitted by an
eligible entity under paragraph (1) shall contain—
(A)a description of the supportive
services proposed to be provided by the eligible entity;
(B)a description of the types of very
low-income veteran families proposed to be provided such services;
(C)an estimate of the number of very
low-income veteran families proposed to be provided such services;
(D)evidence of the experience of the
eligible entity in providing supportive services to very low-income veteran
families; and
(E)a description of the managerial
capacity of the eligible entity to—
(i)coordinate the provision of
supportive services with the provision of permanent housing, by the eligible
entity or by other organizations;
(ii)continuously assess the needs of
very low-income veteran families for supportive services;
(iii)coordinate the provision of
supportive services with the services of the Department;
(iv)tailor supportive services to the
needs of very low-income veteran families; and
(v)continuously seek new sources of
assistance to ensure the long-term provision of supportive services to very
low-income veteran families.
(3)The Secretary shall establish
criteria for the selection of eligible entities to be provided financial
assistance under this section.
(d)(1)The Secretary shall
provide training and technical assistance to participating eligible entities
regarding the planning, development, and provision of supportive services to
very low-income veteran families occupying permanent housing.
(2)The Secretary may provide the
training described in paragraph (1) directly or through grants or contracts
with appropriate public or nonprofit private entities.
(e)(1)From amounts
appropriated to the Department for Medical Care, there shall be available to
carry out this section amounts as follows:
(A)$15,000,000 for fiscal year
2007.
(B)$20,000,000 for fiscal year
2008.
(C)$25,000,000 for fiscal year
2009.
(2)Not more than $750,000 may be
available under paragraph (1) in any fiscal year to provide technical
assistance under subsection (d).
(f)In
this section:
(1)The term
consumer cooperative has the meaning given such term in section
202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q).
(2)The term
eligible entity means—
(A)a private
nonprofit organization; or
(B)a consumer
cooperative.
(3)The term homeless has the
meaning given that term in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302).
(4)The term
permanent housing means community-based housing without a
designated length of stay.
(5)The term
private nonprofit organization means any of the following:
(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 supportive
services provided 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 of clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph
(A).
(C)A corporation
wholly owned and controlled by an organization meeting the requirements of
clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A).
(D)A tribally
designated housing entity (as defined in section 4 of the Native American
Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103)).
(6)(A)Subject to
subparagraphs (B) and (C), 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 in accordance with this
paragraph.
(B)The Secretary shall make appropriate
adjustments to the income requirement under subparagraph (A) based on family
size.
(C)The Secretary may establish an income
ceiling higher or lower than 50 percent of the median income for an area if the
Secretary determines that such variations are necessary because the area has
unusually high or low construction costs, fair market rents (as determined
under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f)), or
family incomes.
(7)The term veteran family
includes a veteran who is a single person and a family in which the head of
household or the spouse of the head of household is a
veteran.
.
(2)The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 20 of
such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2043 the
following new item:
2044. Financial assistance for supportive services for very
low-income veteran families in permanent
housing.
.
(c)Study of
effectiveness of permanent housing program
(1)For fiscal years 2007 and 2008, the Secretary shall
conduct a study of the effectiveness of the permanent housing program under
section 2044 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by subsection (b), in
meeting the needs of very low-income veteran families, as that term is defined
in that section.
(2)In
the study required by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall compare the results of
the program referred to in that subsection with other programs of the
Department of Veterans Affairs dedicated to the delivery of housing and
services to veterans.
(3)In
making the comparison required in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall examine
the following:
(A)The satisfaction
of veterans targeted by the programs described in paragraph (2).
(B)The health status
of such veterans.
(C)The housing
provided such veterans under such programs.
(D)The degree to
which such veterans are encouraged to productive activity by such
programs.
(4)Not
later than March 31, 2009, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
House of Representatives a report on the results of the study required by
paragraph (1).