II 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2273 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 31, 2007 Mr. Akaka (by request) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To enhance the functioning and integration of formerly homeless veterans who reside in permanent housing, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Enhanced Opportunities for Formerly Homeless Veterans Residing in Permanent Housing Act of 2007.

2.

Grants to entities that coordinate the provision of supportive services to formerly homeless veterans residing on qualifying military property

(a)

Establishment

(1)Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out a pilot program to make grants to public and non-profit (including faith-based and community) organizations to coordinate the provision of supportive services available in the local community to very low income, formerly homeless veterans residing in permanent housing that is located on qualifying property. (2)The Secretary may make grants at up to 10 qualifying properties under the pilot program. (b)

Qualifying property

A military installation closed in accordance with the 2005 base realignment and closure process (pursuant to the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Act of 1990 (BRAC), as amended), and the property disposal provisions of chapter 5 of title 40, United States Code (formerly the Federal Property and Administrative Property Act of 1949) that the Secretary of Defense determines, after consideration of the local redevelopment authority's redevelopment plan, may be used to assist the homeless in accordance with the redevelopment plan. (c)

Criteria for grants

The Secretary shall prescribe criteria and requirements for grants under this section and shall publish such criteria and requirements in the Federal Register. (d)

Duration of program

The authority of the Secretary to provide grants under a pilot program under this section will cease on the date that is five years after the date of the commencement of that pilot program. (e)

Definition

For purposes of this section, very low income has the same meaning as that used in the Resident Characteristics Report issued annually by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (f)

Authorization for the appropriation of funds

There is authorized to be appropriated from amounts made available under the heading General Operating Expenses, not more than $3,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to carry out the purposes of this section.

3.

Grants to entities that coordinate the provision of supportive services to formerly homeless veterans residing in permanent housing

(a)

Establishment of pilot program

(1)Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out a pilot program to make grants to public and non-profit (including faith-based and community) organizations to coordinate the provision of supportive services available in the local community to very low income, formerly homeless veterans residing in permanent housing. (2)The Secretary may make grants at up to 10 qualifying properties under the pilot program. (b)

Qualifying property

Any property in the United States on which permanent housing is provided or afforded to formerly homeless veterans, as determined by the Secretary. (c)

Criteria for grants

The Secretary shall prescribe criteria and requirements for grants under this section and shall publish such criteria and requirements in the Federal Register. (d)

Duration of pilot program

The authority of the Secretary to provide grants under a pilot program under this section will cease on the date that is five years after the date of the commencement of that pilot program. (e)

Definition

For purposes of this section, very low income has the same meaning as that used in the Resident Characteristics Report issued annually by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (f)

Authorization for the appropriation of funds

There is authorized to be appropriated from amounts made available under the heading General Operating Expenses, not more than $3,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to carry out the purposes of this section.

4.

Grants to entities for pension outreach

(a)

Authority To make grants

In addition to the outreach authority provided to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs by section 7722 of title 38 United States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out a pilot program to make grants to public and non-profit (including faith-based and community) organizations for services to provide outreach to inform low-income and elderly veterans and their spouses who reside in rural areas of benefits for which they may be eligible under chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code. (b)

Criteria for grants

The Secretary shall prescribe criteria and requirements for grants under this section and shall publish such criteria and requirements in the Federal Register. (c)

Duration of pilot program

The authority of the Secretary to provide grants under a pilot program under this section will cease on the date that is five years after the date of the commencement of that pilot program. (d)

Authorization for the appropriation of funds

There is authorized to be appropriated from amounts made available under the heading General Operating Expenses, not more than $1,275,000 in each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to carry out the purposes of this section.

5.

Grants to entities that assist eligible transitioning individuals in need of vocational rehabilitation assistance and services

(a)

Authority To make grants

(1)Subject to the availability of appropriations provided for such purpose as authorized under subsection (i) of this section, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may carry out a pilot program to make grants to eligible entities to establish new programs or activities, or expand or modify existing programs or activities, for the purpose of furnishing the following services and assistance to each eligible transitioning individual who is entitled and eligible for a rehabilitation program (hereinafter referred to in this section as a rehabilitation program) under chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code: (A)Transportation assistance, which may include providing transportation, paying for or reimbursing transportation costs, and paying for or reimbursing other transportation-related expenses (including orientation on the use of transportation) to facilitate an eligible individual's participation in a rehabilitation program or related activities. (B)Childcare assistance, which may include childcare services or reimbursement of expenses related to childcare to facilitate an eligible individual's participation in a rehabilitation program or related activities. (C)Clothing assistance, which may include personal services in selecting, and payment of a monetary allowance to cover the cost of purchasing, clothing and accessories suitable for job interviews or related activities consistent with an individual's participation in a rehabilitation program or related activities. (2)The Secretary is authorized to make grants under this section during the period beginning on October 1, 2007, and ending on September 30, 2010. (b)

Definitions

For purposes of this section— (1)the term eligible entities means public and non-profit organizations (including faith-based and community organizations) approved by the Secretary under subsection (e) of this section for the purpose of assisting individuals who are eligible for vocational rehabilitation assistance and services under chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code; and (2)the term eligible transitioning individual means a person described in section 3102 of title 38, United States Code, or an individual who was separated or released from active military, naval, or air service due to a service-connected disability on or after October 1, 2006. (c)

Criteria for grants

The Secretary shall establish criteria and requirements for grants under this section, including criteria for entities eligible to receive grants, and shall publish such criteria and requirements in the Federal Register. The criteria established under this subsection shall include the following: (1)Specification as to the kinds of projects or activities for which grants are available. (2)Specification as to the number of projects or activities for which grants are available. (3)Provisions to ensure that grants under this section shall not result in duplication of ongoing services. (d)

Duration of pilot program

The authority of the Secretary to provide grants under a pilot program under this section will cease on the date that is three years after the date of the commencement of that pilot program. (e)

Funding limitation

A grant under this section may not be used to support eligible entities' operational costs. (f)

Eligible entities

The Secretary may make a grant under this section to an entity applying for such a grant only if the applicant for the grant— (1)is a public or nonprofit private entity with the capacity (as determined by the Secretary) to effectively administer a grant under this section; (2)demonstrates that adequate financial support will be available to carry out the project or activity for which the grant is sought consistent with the plans, specifications, and schedule submitted by the applicant; and (3)agrees to meet the applicable criteria and requirements established under subsections (c) and (g) and has, as determined by the Secretary, the capacity to meet such criteria and requirements. (g)

Application requirement

An entity seeking a grant for a project or activity under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application for the grant. The application shall set forth the following: (1)The amount of the grant sought for the project or activity. (2)Plans, specifications, and the schedule for implementation of the project or activity in accordance with criteria and requirements prescribed by the Secretary under subsection (c). (h)

Program requirements

The Secretary may not make a grant for a project or activity to an applicant under this section unless the applicant in the application for the grant agrees to each of the following requirements: (1)To provide the services for which the grant is made at locations accessible to eligible individuals. (2)To ensure the confidentiality of records maintained on eligible individuals receiving services through the project. (3)To establish such procedures for fiscal control and fund accounting as may be necessary to ensure proper disbursement and accounting with respect to the grant and to such payments as may be made under this section. (i)

Recovery of unused grant funds

(1)If a grant recipient under this section— (A)does not establish a program or activity in accordance with this section; or (B)ceases to furnish services under such a program for which the grant was made, the United States shall be entitled to recover from such recipient the total of all unused grant amounts made under this section to such recipient in connection with such program.(2)Any amount recovered by the United States under paragraph (1) may be obligated by the Secretary without fiscal year limitation to carry out provisions of this section. (3)An amount may not be recovered under paragraph (1)(A) as an unused grant amount before the end of the three-year period beginning on the date on which the grant is made. (j)

Authorization for the appropriation of funds

There is authorized to be appropriated from amounts made available under the heading General Operating Expenses, not more than $5,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2008 through 2010 to carry out the purposes of this section.

6.

Assessment of pilot programs

(a)Not less than one year before the expiration of the authority to carry out the pilot programs authorized in sections 2 through 5 of this bill, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide a progress report to the Congress for each of the pilot programs that includes key measures and lessons that the Secretary can apply to programs with similar purposes, as well as recommendations on whether or not to continue each program. (b)Key measures that the Secretary shall report on include the number of veterans and dependents served by the pilot programs, quality of service to veterans and dependents, the amount of funds provided to grant recipients, and the names of organizations that have received grants.