II
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1991
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 10, 2005
Mr. Burr introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a financial assistance program to facilitate the provision of supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing, and for other purposes.
Financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing
Short title
This Act may be cited
as the Services To Prevent Veterans
Homelessness Act
.
Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to facilitate the provision of supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing.
Authorization of financial assistance
In general
Subchapter V of chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subchapter:
Financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing
Distribution of financial assistance
In general
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.
Per diem payments
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.
Formula
The Secretary shall establish a formula to determine the rate of per diem payments to be provided with respect to very low-income veteran families provided supportive services under this section. This rate shall be adjusted not less than annually to reflect changes in the cost of living. In calculating the per diem formula under this paragraph, the Secretary may consider geographic cost of living variances, family size, and the cost of services provided.
Preference
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.
Geographic distribution
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.
Notice
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 of Veterans Affairs.
Reporting requirement
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.
Supportive services
The supportive services referred to in subsection (a) are the following:
Services provided by an eligible entity or subcontractors that address the needs of very low-income veteran families occupying permanent housing, including—
outreach services;
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 of Veterans Affairs medical center serving the geographic area in which the veteran family is housed;
habilitation and rehabilitation services;
case management services;
daily living services;
personal financial planning;
transportation services;
vocational counseling;
employment and training;
educational services;
assistance in obtaining veterans benefits and other public benefits, including health care provided by the Department;
assistance in obtaining income support;
assistance in obtaining health insurance;
fiduciary and representative payee services;
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;
child care;
housing counseling;
other services necessary for maintaining independent living; and
coordination of services under this paragraph.
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.
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.
Application for financial assistance
In general
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.
Contents
Each application submitted by an eligible entity under paragraph (1) shall contain—
a description of the supportive services proposed to be provided by the eligible entity;
a description of the types of very low-income veteran families proposed to be provided such services;
an estimate of the number of very low-income veteran families proposed to be provided such services;
evidence of the experience of the eligible entity in providing supportive services to very low-income veteran families;
a description of the managerial capacity of the eligible entity to—
coordinate the provision of supportive services with the provision of permanent housing, by the eligible entity or by other organizations;
continuously assess the needs of very low-income veteran families for supportive services;
coordinate the provision of supportive services with the services of the Department;
tailor supportive services to the needs of very low-income veteran families; and
continuously seek new sources of assistance to ensure the long-term provision of supportive services to very low-income veteran families.
Selection criteria
The Secretary shall establish criteria for the selection of eligible entities to be provided financial assistance under this section.
Technical assistance
In general
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.
Contracts
The Secretary may provide the training described in paragraph (1) directly or through grants or contracts with appropriate public or nonprofit private entities.
Funding
Of the amounts available each fiscal year to the Department for Medical Care for veterans, $25,000,000 shall be available in each such fiscal year to carry out the provisions of this section, of which not more than $750,000 may be used to provide technical assistance under subsection (d).
Definitions
In this section:
Consumer cooperative
The term consumer cooperative has the meaning given such term in section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q).
Eligible entity
The term eligible entity means—
a private nonprofit organization; or
a consumer cooperative.
Homeless
The term homeless has the meaning given the term in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302)).
Permanent housing
The term permanent housing means community-based housing without a designated length of stay.
Private nonprofit organization
The term private nonprofit organization means—
any incorporated private institution or foundation—
no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any member, founder, contributor, or individual;
which has a governing board that is responsible for the operation of the supportive services provided under this section; and
which is approved by the Secretary as to financial responsibility;
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);
a corporation wholly owned and controlled by an organization meeting the requirements of clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A); and
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)).
Very low-income veteran family
In general
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.
Adjustments for family size
The Secretary shall make appropriate adjustments to the income requirement under subparagraph (A) based on family size.
Adjustments for housing costs
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.
Veteran family
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.
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Clerical amendment
The table of section at the beginning of chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2043 the following:
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