II 112th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3349 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 27, 2012 Mr. Reed introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, and the United States Housing Act of 1937 to enhance and expand the assistance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Zero Tolerance for Veterans Homelessness Act of 2012.

2.

Findings

Congress makes the following findings: (1)Veterans are at a greater risk of becoming homeless than other people in the United States because of characteristics that include the following: (A)Having employment-related skills that are unique to military service and that can be difficult to transfer to the civilian sector. (B)Combat-related health issues. (C)Earning minimal income or being unemployed. (D)A shortage of safe, affordable housing. (2)The Secretary of Veterans Affairs estimates the following: (A)More than 67,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. (B)About 145,000 veterans experience homelessness each year. (C)Veterans account for nearly 1/5 of all homeless people in the United States. (3)It is expected that significant increases in services will be needed to serve the aging veterans of the Vietnam War and members of the Armed Forces returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan. (4)In 2009, the President and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs announced the Federal Government’s renewed efforts to address veteran homelessness.

3.

Enhancement of comprehensive service programs

(a)

Enhancement of grants

Section 2011 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1)in subsection (b)(1)(A), by striking expansion, remodeling, or alteration of existing buildings, or acquisition of facilities, and inserting new construction of facilities, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of existing facilities, or acquisition of facilities,; and (2)in subsection (c)— (A)in the first sentence, by striking A grant and inserting (1) A grant; (B)in the second sentence of paragraph (1), as designated by subparagraph (A), by striking The amount and inserting the following: (2)The amount ; and (C)by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3)(A)The Secretary may not deny an application from an entity that seeks a grant under this section to carry out a project described in subsection (b)(1)(A) solely on the basis that the entity proposes to use funding from other private or public sources, if the entity demonstrates that a private nonprofit organization will provide oversight and site control for the project. (B)In this paragraph, the term private nonprofit organization means the following: (i)An incorporated private institution, organization, or foundation— (I)that has received, or has temporary clearance to receive, tax-exempt status under paragraph (2), (3), or (19) of section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; (II)for which no part of the net earnings of the institution, organization, or foundation inures to the benefit of any member, founder, or contributor of the institution, organization, or foundation; and (III)that the Secretary determines is financially responsible. (ii)A for-profit limited partnership or limited liability company, the sole general partner or manager of which is an organization that is described by subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (i). (iii)A corporation wholly owned and controlled by an organization that is described by subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (i). . (b)

Grant and per diem payments

(1)

Study and development of fiscal controls and payment method

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall— (A)complete a study of all matters relating to the method used by the Secretary to make per diem payments under section 2012(a) of title 38, United States Code, including changes anticipated by the Secretary in the cost of furnishing services to homeless veterans and accounting for costs of providing such services in various geographic areas; (B)develop more effective and efficient procedures for fiscal control and fund accounting by recipients of grants under sections 2011, 2012, and 2061 of such title; and (C)develop a more effective and efficient method for adequately reimbursing recipients of grants under section 2011 of such title for services furnished to homeless veterans. (2)

Consideration

In developing the method required by paragraph (1)(C), the Secretary may consider payments and grants received by recipients of grants described in such paragraph from other departments and agencies of Federal and local governments and from private entities. (3)

Report

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on— (A)the findings of the Secretary with respect to the study required by subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1); (B)the methods developed under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of such paragraph; and (C)any recommendations of the Secretary for revising the method described in subparagraph (A) of such paragraph and any legislative action the Secretary considers necessary to implement such method.

4.

Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs in Office of Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

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: (h)

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 by the Secretary, 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 that veterans have access to housing and homeless assistance under each program of the Department providing such assistance; (B)coordinating all programs and activities of the Department relating to veterans; (C)serving as a liaison for the Department with the Department of Veterans Affairs; and (D)carrying out such other duties as may be assigned to the Special Assistant by the Secretary or by law. .

5.

Plan to end veteran homelessness

(a)

In general

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a comprehensive plan to end homelessness among veterans. (b)

Elements

The plan required by subsection (a) shall include the following: (1)An analysis of programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs and other departments and agencies of the Federal Government that are designed to prevent homelessness among veterans and assist veterans who are homeless. (2)An evaluation of whether and how coordination between the programs described in paragraph (1) would contribute to ending homelessness among veterans. (3)Recommendations for improving the programs described in paragraph (1), enhancing coordination between such programs, or eliminating programs that are no longer effective. (4)Recommendations for new programs to prevent and end homelessness among veterans, including an estimation of the cost of such programs. (5)A timeline for implementing the plan, including milestones to track the implementation of the plan. (6)Benchmarks to measure the effectiveness of the plan and the efforts of the Secretary to implement the plan. (7)Such other matters as the Secretary considers necessary. (c)

Consideration of veterans located in rural areas

The analysis, evaluation, and recommendations included in the report required by subsection (a) shall include consideration of the circumstances and requirements that are unique to veterans located in rural areas.