[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8560 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8560
To amend title 38, United States Code, and the United States Housing
Act of 1937, to make certain improvements to the supported housing
program for veterans commonly known as ``HUD-VASH''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 23, 2024
Mr. Takano (for himself, Ms. Waters, and Mr. Levin) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial
Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, and the United States Housing
Act of 1937, to make certain improvements to the supported housing
program for veterans commonly known as ``HUD-VASH''.
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 ``End Veteran Homelessness Act of
2024''.
SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION OF STAFFING NEEDS FOR CASE MANAGERS OF THE
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION WITH REGARDS TO HOMELESS
VETERANS AND VETERANS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.
(a) In General.--Section 2003(b) of title 38, United States Code,
is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Secretary'';
(2) by inserting ``, and who is determined to require case
management,'' before ``is assigned''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) In assigning case managers and providing services under this
subsection, the Secretary shall prioritize vulnerable homeless
veterans, including veterans who are homeless and who have disabilities
(including chronic mental illness, chronic substance abuse disorders,
or chronic physical disabilities).''.
(b) Annual Report.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in
coordination with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shall
submit to Congress an annual report on the program under section
8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437f(o)(19)), as amended by section 3 of this Act and commonly known
as the ``HUD-VASH program'', which shall include, for the year covered
by the report, each of the following, disaggregated by locality and by
demographics (if the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines it
appropriate):
(1) An identification of the number and demographic
characteristics of veterans served by the HUD-VASH program.
(2) The number, qualifications, and demographics of case
managers described in section 2003(b) of title 38, United
States Code, as amended by subsection (a).
(3) An assessment of the standard and scope of care
provided by such case managers to such veterans, including
factors such as--
(A) staffing ratios;
(B) practices used in case management;
(C) frequency with which a case manager contacts a
veteran;
(D) whether a case manager successfully connects a
veteran to a requested resource or support; and
(E) professional licenses or certifications
possessed by case managers.
(4) An assessment of the types of services provided by such
case managers to such veterans.
(5) With regard to vouchers made available under the HUD-
VASH program--
(A) the number requested;
(B) the number allocated;
(C) the number used;
(D) the number assigned but unused; and
(E) the average time between such assignation and
such use.
(6) The percentage of such veterans who used such a voucher
and received case management from such a case manager.
(7) An identification of barriers that prevented the use of
such vouchers by such veterans.
SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO HUD-VASH PROGRAM.
Section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42
U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)--
(A) in the first sentence--
(i) by striking ``subparagraph (C)'' and
inserting ``subparagraph (B)''; and
(ii) by striking ``the amounts specified in
subparagraph (B)'' and inserting ``amounts'';
(B) by striking the second sentence and inserting
``In the course of administering such program--''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new clauses:
``(i) the Secretary shall provide rental
assistance on behalf of a veteran who is--
``(I) homeless;
``(II) at risk of homelessness; or
``(III) receiving assistance under
another housing assistance program if
the Secretary determines a voucher
under this paragraph is a more
appropriate form of assistance for such
veteran;
``(ii) subject to subparagraph (D), the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall furnish
case management to a veteran described in
clause (i) whom such Secretary (acting through
an appropriately licensed or otherwise
qualified employee of the Department of
Veterans Affairs or an entity that participates
in a centralized or coordinated entry system
(as defined in section 578.3 of title 24, Code
of Federal Regulations, or successor
regulation) of the Department of Housing and
Urban Development) determines requires case
management;
``(iii) in the case of a veteran described
in clause (ii) who refuses case management--
``(I) the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall--
``(aa) make recurring
attempts to engage and build a
relationship with the veteran,
in order to provide such case
management to the veteran,
solicit feedback from the
veteran, and promote the
veteran's housing stability and
opportunities to access health
care and other benefits under
laws administered by the
Secretary; and
``(bb) provide case
management to such veteran if
the veteran subsequently
requests case management;
``(II) the Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development may not revoke such
rental assistance on behalf of the
veteran solely on the basis of such
refusal;
``(III) a public housing authority
may not revoke rental assistance
provided by such authority on behalf of
the veteran solely on the basis of such
refusal; and
``(IV) the owner may not evict or
otherwise penalize the veteran solely
on the basis of such refusal; and
``(iv) in the case of a veteran described
in clause (ii) whose case management is
suspended for the health and safety of the
veteran or the case manager, the owner may not
evict or otherwise penalize the veteran solely
on the basis of such suspension.'';
(2) by striking subparagraph (B);
(3) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as
subparagraphs (B) and (E), respectively;
(4) by inserting after subparagraph (B), as redesignated
the following new subparagraphs:
``(C) Veterans who do not require case
management.--A voucher made available under this
paragraph may be used for a homeless veteran, or a
veteran at risk of homelessness, whom the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs determines does not require case
management if such use is included in the notice of
operating requirements of such program.
``(D) Administrative fees.--There is authorized to
be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for
administrative fee payments to public housing agencies
for costs of administering vouchers under this
paragraph and other eligible expenses, as shall be
defined by notice issued by the Secretary, to
facilitate the leasing of the vouchers, such as
security deposit assistance and other costs related to
retention and support of participating owners.''.
SEC. 4. GAO REPORT ON HOMELESS VETERANS.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report
containing the following, disaggregated by demographics (if the
Comptroller General determines it appropriate)--
(1) a description of the demographic characteristics of
veterans served by the HUD-VASH program, disaggregated by
whether the veteran is receiving services from a case manager
described in section 2003(b) of title 38, United States Code,
as amended by section 2 of this Act;
(2) the number, qualifications, and demographic
characteristics of such case managers;
(3) an assessment of the types and quality of case
management services provided to veterans by case managers
described in section 2003(b) of title 38, United States Code,
as amended by section 2, disaggregated by locality;
(4) an assessment of recruitment and retention of such case
managers, disaggregated by locality and demographic
characteristics; and
(5) metrics regarding housing stability and retention for
veterans participating in Federal housing assistance programs,
including veterans who have participated in more than one such
program and reasons why veterans ceased to so participate.
(b) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the following:
(1) The Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives.
(2) The Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate.
(3) The Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives.
(4) The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of
the Senate.
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