[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3743 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3743

To establish a pilot program to authorize the Secretary of Housing and 
    Urban Development to make grants to nonprofit organizations to 
   rehabilitate and modify homes of disabled and low-income veterans.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 12, 2013

   Mr. Al Green of Texas (for himself, Mr. Stivers, Mr. Roskam, Mr. 
     Turner, Mr. Clay, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Langevin, and Mr. Michaud) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                           Financial Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish a pilot program to authorize the Secretary of Housing and 
    Urban Development to make grants to nonprofit organizations to 
   rehabilitate and modify homes of disabled and 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 ``Housing Assistance for Veterans Act 
of 2013'' or the ``HAVEN Act''.

SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM TO REHABILITATE AND MODIFY HOMES OF DISABLED AND 
              LOW-INCOME VETERANS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Disabled.--The term ``disabled'' means an individual 
        with a disability, as defined by section 12102 of title 42, 
        United States Code.
            (2) Eligible veteran.--The term ``eligible veteran'' means 
        a disabled or low-income veteran.
            (3) Energy efficient features or equipment.--The term 
        ``energy efficient features or equipment'' means features of, 
        or equipment in, a primary residence that help reduce the 
        amount of electricity used to heat, cool, or ventilate such 
        residence, including insulation, weatherstripping, air sealing, 
        heating system repairs, duct sealing, or other measures.
            (4) Low-income veteran.--The term ``low-income veteran'' 
        means a veteran whose income does not exceed 80 percent of the 
        median income for an area, as determined by the Secretary.
            (5) Nonprofit organization.--The term ``nonprofit 
        organization'' means an organization that is--
                    (A) described in section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) of 
                the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
                    (B) exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such 
                Code.
            (6) Primary residence.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``primary residence'' 
                means a single family house, a duplex, or a unit within 
                a multiple-dwelling structure that is the principal 
                dwelling of an eligible veteran and is owned by such 
                veteran or a family member of such veteran.
                    (B) Family member defined.--For purposes of this 
                paragraph, the term ``family member'' includes--
                            (i) a spouse, child, grandchild, parent, or 
                        sibling;
                            (ii) a spouse of such a child, grandchild, 
                        parent, or sibling; or
                            (iii) any individual related by blood or 
                        affinity whose close association with a veteran 
                        is the equivalent of a family relationship.
            (7) Qualified organization.--The term ``qualified 
        organization'' means a nonprofit organization that provides 
        nationwide or statewide programs that primarily serve veterans 
        or low-income individuals.
            (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Housing and Urban Development.
            (9) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given 
        the term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
            (10) Veterans service organization.--The term ``veterans 
        service organization'' means any organization recognized by the 
        Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of 
        veterans under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.
    (b) Establishment of a Pilot Program.--
            (1) Grant.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a 
                pilot program to award grants to qualified 
                organizations to rehabilitate and modify the primary 
                residence of eligible veterans.
                    (B) Coordination.--The Secretary shall work in 
                conjunction with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
                establish and oversee the pilot program and to ensure 
                that such program meets the needs of eligible veterans.
                    (C) Maximum grant.--A grant award under the pilot 
                program to any one qualified organization shall not 
                exceed $1,000,000 in any one fiscal year, and such an 
                award shall remain available until expended by such 
                organization.
            (2) Application.--
                    (A) In general.--Each qualified organization that 
                desires a grant under the pilot program shall submit an 
                application to the Secretary at such time, in such 
                manner, and, in addition to the information required 
                under subparagraph (B), accompanied by such information 
                as the Secretary may reasonably require.
                    (B) Contents.--Each application submitted under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include--
                            (i) a plan of action detailing outreach 
                        initiatives;
                            (ii) the approximate number of veterans the 
                        qualified organization intends to serve using 
                        grant funds;
                            (iii) a description of the type of work 
                        that will be conducted, such as interior home 
                        modifications, energy efficiency improvements, 
                        and other similar categories of work; and
                            (iv) a plan for working with the Department 
                        of Veterans Affairs and veterans service 
                        organizations to identify veterans who are not 
                        eligible for programs under chapter 21 of title 
                        38, United States Code, and meet their needs.
                    (C) Preferences.--In awarding grants under the 
                pilot program, the Secretary shall give preference to a 
                qualified organization--
                            (i) with experience in providing housing 
                        rehabilitation and modification services for 
                        disabled veterans; or
                            (ii) that proposes to provide housing 
                        rehabilitation and modification services for 
                        eligible veterans who live in rural, including 
                        tribal, areas (the Secretary, through 
                        regulations, shall define the term ``rural 
                        areas'').
            (3) Criteria.--In order to receive a grant award under the 
        pilot program, a qualified organization shall meet the 
        following criteria:
                    (A) Demonstrate expertise in providing housing 
                rehabilitation and modification services for disabled 
                or low-income individuals for the purpose of making the 
                homes of such individuals accessible, functional, and 
                safe for such individuals.
                    (B) Have established outreach initiatives that--
                            (i) would engage eligible veterans and 
                        veterans service organizations in projects 
                        utilizing grant funds under the pilot program;
                            (ii) ensure veterans who are disabled 
                        receive preference in selection for assistance 
                        under this program; and
                            (iii) identify eligible veterans and their 
                        families and enlist veterans involved in 
                        skilled trades, such as carpentry, roofing, 
                        plumbing, or HVAC work.
                    (C) Have an established nationwide or statewide 
                network of affiliates that are--
                            (i) nonprofit organizations; and
                            (ii) able to provide housing rehabilitation 
                        and modification services for eligible 
                        veterans.
                    (D) Have experience in successfully carrying out 
                the accountability and reporting requirements involved 
                in the proper administration of grant funds, including 
                funds provided by private entities or Federal, State, 
                or local government entities.
            (4) Use of funds.--A grant award under the pilot program 
        shall be used--
                    (A) to modify and rehabilitate the primary 
                residence of an eligible veteran, and may include--
                            (i) installing wheelchair ramps, widening 
                        exterior and interior doors, reconfigurating 
                        and re-equipping bathrooms (which includes 
                        installing new fixtures and grab bars), 
                        removing doorway thresholds, installing special 
                        lighting, adding additional electrical outlets 
                        and electrical service, and installing 
                        appropriate floor coverings to--
                                    (I) accommodate the functional 
                                limitations that result from having a 
                                disability; or
                                    (II) if such residence does not 
                                have modifications necessary to reduce 
                                the chances that an elderly, but not 
                                disabled person, will fall in their 
                                home, reduce the risks of such an 
                                elderly person from falling;
                            (ii) rehabilitating such residence that is 
                        in a state of interior or exterior disrepair; 
                        and
                            (iii) installing energy efficient features 
                        or equipment if--
                                    (I) an eligible veteran's monthly 
                                utility costs for such residence is 
                                more than 5 percent of such veteran's 
                                monthly income; and
                                    (II) an energy audit of such 
                                residence indicates that the 
                                installation of energy efficient 
                                features or equipment will reduce such 
                                costs by 10 percent or more; and
                    (B) in connection with modification and 
                rehabilitation services provided under the pilot 
                program, to provide technical, administrative, and 
                training support to an affiliate of a qualified 
                organization receiving a grant under such pilot 
                program.
            (5) Oversight.--The Secretary shall direct the oversight of 
        the grant funds for the pilot program so that such funds are 
        used efficiently until expended to fulfill the purpose of 
        addressing the adaptive housing needs of eligible veterans.
            (6) Matching funds.--
                    (A) In general.--A qualified organization receiving 
                a grant under the pilot program shall contribute 
                towards the housing modification and rehabilitation 
                services provided to eligible veterans an amount equal 
                to not less than 50 percent of the grant award received 
                by such organization.
                    (B) In-kind contributions.--In order to meet the 
                requirement under subparagraph (A), such organization 
                may arrange for in-kind contributions.
            (7) Limitation cost to the veterans.--A qualified 
        organization receiving a grant under the pilot program shall 
        modify or rehabilitate the primary residence of an eligible 
        veteran at no cost to such veteran (including application fees) 
        or at a cost such that such veteran pays no more than 30 
        percent of his or her income in housing costs during any month.
            (8) Reports.--
                    (A) Annual report.--The Secretary shall submit to 
                Congress, on an annual basis, a report that provides, 
                with respect to the year for which such report is 
                written--
                            (i) the number of eligible veterans 
                        provided assistance under the pilot program;
                            (ii) the socioeconomic characteristics of 
                        such veterans, including their gender, age, 
                        race, and ethnicity;
                            (iii) the total number, types, and 
                        locations of entities contracted under such 
                        program to administer the grant funding;
                            (iv) the amount of matching funds and in-
                        kind contributions raised with each grant;
                            (v) a description of the housing 
                        rehabilitation and modification services 
                        provided, costs saved, and actions taken under 
                        such program;
                            (vi) a description of the outreach 
                        initiatives implemented by the Secretary to 
                        educate the general public and eligible 
                        entities about such program;
                            (vii) a description of the outreach 
                        initiatives instituted by grant recipients to 
                        engage eligible veterans and veteran service 
                        organizations in projects utilizing grant funds 
                        under such program;
                            (viii) a description of the outreach 
                        initiatives instituted by grant recipients to 
                        identify eligible veterans and their families; 
                        and
                            (ix) any other information that the 
                        Secretary considers relevant in assessing such 
                        program.
                    (B) Final report.--Not later than 6 months after 
                the completion of the pilot program, the Secretary 
                shall submit to Congress a report that provides such 
                information that the Secretary considers relevant in 
                assessing the pilot program.
                    (C) Inspector general report.--Not later than March 
                31, 2019, the Inspector General of the Department of 
                Housing and Urban Development shall submit to the 
                Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Committee on 
                Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and 
                the Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
                Representatives a report containing a review of--
                            (i) the use of appropriated funds by the 
                        Secretary and by grantees under the pilot 
                        program; and
                            (ii) oversight and accountability of 
                        grantees under the pilot program.
            (9) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated for carrying out this section $4,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019.
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