Home > 107th Congressional Public Laws > Pub.L. 107-096 Making appropriations for the government of the District of Columbia and other activities chargeable in whole or in part against revenues of said District for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2002, and for other purposes. <Pub.L. 107-096 Making appropriations for the government of the District of Columbia and other activities chargeable in whole or in part against revenues of said District for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2002, and for other purposes. <
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Public Law 107-95
107th Congress
An Act
To amend title 38, United States Code, to revise, improve, and
consolidate provisions of law providing benefits and services for
homeless veterans. <<NOTE: Dec. 21, 2001 - [H.R. 2716]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Homeless
Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS; REFERENCES TO TITLE 38,
UNITED STATES CODE.
(a) Short Title.--This Act <<NOTE: 38 USC 101 note.>> may be cited
as the ``Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; references to title 38, United
States Code.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. National goal to end homelessness among veterans.
Sec. 4. Sense of the Congress regarding the needs of homeless veterans
and the
responsibility of Federal agencies.
Sec. 5. Consolidation and improvement of provisions of law relating to
homeless veterans.
Sec. 6. Evaluation centers for homeless veterans programs.
Sec. 7. Study of outcome effectiveness of grant program for homeless
veterans with special needs.
Sec. 8. Expansion of other programs.
Sec. 9. Coordination of employment services.
Sec. 10. Use of real property.
Sec. 11. Meetings of Interagency Council on Homeless.
Sec. 12. Rental assistance vouchers for HUD Veterans Affairs Supported
Housing program.
(c) References to Title 38, United States Code.--Except as otherwise
expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is
expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other
provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or
other provision of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. <<NOTE: 38 USC 2001 note.>>
For purposes of this Act:
(1) The term ``homeless veteran'' has the meaning given such
term in section 2002 of title 38, United States Code, as added
by section 5(a)(1).
(2) The term ``grant and per diem provider'' means an entity
in receipt of a grant under section 2011 or 2012 of title 38,
United States Code, as so added.
SEC. 3. <<NOTE: 38 USC 2001 note.>> NATIONAL GOAL TO END HOMELESSNESS
AMONG VETERANS.
(a) National Goal.--Congress hereby declares it to be a national
goal to end chronic homelessness among veterans within a decade of the
enactment of this Act.
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(b) Cooperative Efforts Encouraged.--Congress hereby encourages all
departments and agencies of Federal, State, and local governments,
quasi-governmental organizations, private and public sector entities,
including community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and
individuals to work cooperatively to end chronic homelessness among
veterans within a decade.
SEC. 4. <<NOTE: 38 USC 2001 note.>> SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING THE
NEEDS OF HOMELESS VETERANS AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FEDERAL
AGENCIES.
It is the sense of the Congress that--
(1) homelessness is a significant problem in the veterans
community and veterans are disproportionately represented among
homeless men;
(2) while many effective programs assist homeless veterans
to again become productive and self-sufficient members of
society, current resources provided to such programs and other
activities that assist homeless veterans are inadequate to
provide all needed essential services, assistance, and support
to homeless veterans;
(3) the most effective programs for the assistance of
homeless veterans should be identified and expanded;
(4) federally funded programs for homeless veterans should
be held accountable for achieving clearly defined results;
(5) Federal efforts to assist homeless veterans should
include prevention of homelessness; and
(6) Federal agencies, particularly the Department of
Veterans Affairs, the Department of Housing and Urban
Development, and the Department of Labor, should cooperate more
fully to address the problem of homelessness among veterans.
SEC. 5. CONSOLIDATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF PROVISIONS OF LAW RELATING TO
HOMELESS VETERANS.
(a) In General.--(1) Part II is amended by inserting after chapter
19 the following new chapter:
``CHAPTER 20--BENEFITS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS
``subchapter i--purpose; definitions; administrative matters
``Sec.
``2001. Purpose.
``2002. Definitions.
``2003. Staffing requirements.
``subchapter ii--comprehensive service programs
``2011. Grants.
``2012. Per diem payments.
``2013. Authorization of appropriations.
``subchapter iii--training and outreach
``2021. Homeless veterans reintegration programs.
``2022. Coordination of outreach services for veterans at risk of
homelessness.
``2023. Demonstration program of referral and counseling for veterans
transitioning from certain institutions who are at risk for
homelessness.
``subchapter iv--treatment and rehabilitation for seriously mentally ill
and homeless veterans
``2031. General treatment.
``2032. Therapeutic housing.
``2033. Additional services at certain locations.
``2034. Coordination with other agencies and organizations.
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``subchapter v--housing assistance
``2041. Housing assistance for homeless veterans.
``2042. Supported housing for veterans participating in compensated work
therapies.
``2043. Domiciliary care programs.
``subchapter vi--loan guarantee for multifamily transitional housing
``2051. General authority.
``2052. Requirements.
``2053. Default.
``2054. Audit.
``subchapter vii--other provisions
``2061. Grant program for homeless veterans with special needs.
``2062. Dental care.
``2063. Employment assistance.
``2064. Technical assistance grants for nonprofit community-based
groups.
``2065. Annual report on assistance to homeless veterans.
``2066. Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.
``SUBCHAPTER I--PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS; ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
``Sec. 2001. Purpose
``The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the special needs of
homeless veterans.
``Sec. 2002. Definitions
``In this chapter:
``(1) The term `homeless veteran' means a veteran who is
homeless (as that term is defined in section 103(a) of the
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302(a)).
``(2) The term `grant and per diem provider' means an entity
in receipt of a grant under section 2011 or 2012 of this title.
``Sec. 2003. Staffing requirements
``(a) VBA Staffing at Regional Offices.--The Secretary shall ensure
that there is at least one full-time employee assigned to oversee and
coordinate homeless veterans programs at each of the 20 Veterans
Benefits Administration regional offices that the Secretary determines
have the largest homeless veteran populations within the regions of the
Administration. The programs covered by such oversight and coordination
include the following:
``(1) Housing programs administered by the Secretary under
this title or any other provision of law.
``(2) Compensation, pension, vocational rehabilitation, and
education benefits programs administered by the Secretary under
this title or any other provision of law.
``(3) The housing program for veterans supported by the
Department of Housing and Urban Development.
``(4) The homeless veterans reintegration program of the
Department of Labor under section 2021 of this title.
``(5) The programs under section 2033 of this title.
``(6) The assessments required by section 2034 of this
title.
``(7) Such other programs relating to homeless veterans as
may be specified by the Secretary.
``(b) VHA Case Managers.--The Secretary shall ensure that the number
of case managers in the Veterans Health Administration is sufficient to
assure that every veteran who is provided a housing voucher through
section 8(o) of the United States Housing
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Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)) is assigned to, and is seen as needed
by, a case manager.
``SUBCHAPTER II--COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS
``Sec. 2011. Grants
``(a) Authority To Make Grants.--(1) Subject to the availability of
appropriations provided for such purpose, the Secretary shall make
grants to assist eligible entities in establishing programs to furnish,
and expanding or modifying existing programs for furnishing, the
following to homeless veterans:
``(A) Outreach.
``(B) Rehabilitative services.
``(C) Vocational counseling and training
``(D) Transitional housing assistance.
``(2) <<NOTE: Expiration date.>> The authority of the Secretary to
make grants under this section expires on September 30, 2005.
``(b) Criteria <<NOTE: Federal Register, publication.>> 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 for which
grants are available, which shall include--
``(A) expansion, remodeling, or alteration of
existing buildings, or acquisition of facilities, for
use as service centers, transitional housing, or other
facilities to serve homeless veterans; and
``(B) procurement of vans for use in outreach to and
transportation for homeless veterans for purposes of a
program referred to in subsection (a).
``(2) Specification as to the number of projects for which
grants are available.
``(3) Criteria for staffing for the provision of services
under a project for which grants are made.
``(4) Provisions to ensure that grants under this section--
``(A) shall not result in duplication of ongoing
services; and
``(B) to the maximum extent practicable, shall
reflect appropriate geographic dispersion and an
appropriate
balance between urban and other locations.
``(5) Provisions to ensure that an entity receiving a grant
shall meet fire and safety requirements established by the
Secretary, which shall include--
``(A) such State and local requirements that may
apply; and
``(B) fire and safety requirements applicable under
the Life Safety Code of the National Fire Protection
Association or such other comparable fire and safety
requirements as the Secretary may specify.
``(6) Specification as to the means by which an entity
receiving a grant may contribute in-kind services to the start-
up costs of a project for which a grant is sought and the
methodology for assigning a cost to that contribution for
purposes of subsection (c).
``(c) Funding Limitations.--A grant under this section may not be
used to support operational costs. The amount of a grant
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under this section may not exceed 65 percent of the estimated cost of
the project concerned.
``(d) 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 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 (b) and (g) and has,
as determined by the Secretary, the capacity to meet such
criteria and requirements.
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