Comprehensive Services Program for Homeless Veterans Act of 1990 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a comprehensive services program to address fully the needs of homeless veterans through housing, medical care, vocational rehabilitation, transportation, and social services provided through this Act and other programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Requires each director of a medical center of the Department to carry out jointly with the veterans' benefits director of the region concerned an assessment concerning the number of homeless veterans in the area and current services provided. Requires joint preparation, for each of FY 1991 through 1994, of a plan for meeting the needs of homeless veterans in the area, to be submitted to the Secretary. Provides funding from the Secretary to the directors for such assessment and plans. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1991 through 1994.
Directs the Secretary to provide for the establishment of outreach service centers in areas where there are significant numbers of homeless veterans. Outlines staffing and services of such centers.
Directs the Secretary to provide mobile support teams to assist in the provision of benefits through medically-equipped vans in areas high in homeless veterans and in rural areas lacking adequate access to Department medical facilities.
Expands the current veterans' benefits available to homeless veterans to include dental, optometric, and podiatric services.
Requires the director of each medical center of the Department to use funds provided by the Secretary for homeless veterans assistance to make monthly assistance available for housing for homeless veterans and their families, under specified conditions. Prohibits such assistance for longer than one year for each homeless veteran. Requires a homeless veteran receiving such assistance to be employed at least 18 hours a week or to be involved in a compensated work therapy program administered by the Department.
Requires each director to establish a program for the provision of housing owned or leased by the Department in which veterans with chronic mental illness or veterans recovering from alcohol or drug abuse may reside. Outlines program requirements similar to housing assistance program requirements.
Requires each director to establish a revolving fund to make loans for the cost of establishing programs for the provision of housing to mentally ill veterans or veterans recovering from alcohol or drug abuse. Outlines loan conditions and guidelines.
Directs the Secretary, for each of FY 1991 through 1994, to carry out evaluations of the programs established under this Act and to make specified congressional reports.
Authorizes the Secretary to accept donations of services and equipment in furtherance of the purposes of this Act.
HR 3992 IH 101st CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3992 To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and maintain a comprehensive services program for homeless veterans. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 7, 1990 Mr. KENNEDY (for himself, Mr. STAGGERS, and Mr. ATKINS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and maintain a comprehensive services program for homeless 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 `Comprehensive Services Program for Homeless Veterans Act of 1990'. SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES PROGRAM. The Secretary shall establish and maintain a comprehensive services program to address fully the needs of homeless veterans through housing, medical care, vocational rehabilitation, transportation, and social services provided through-- (1) programs authorized by this Act; (2) other programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs that provide services to homeless veterans; and (3) coordinating, to the maximum extent practicable, the programs referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2) with other Federal, State, and local programs that provide services to homeless veterans. SEC. 3. ASSESSMENT AND PLAN. (a) ASSESSMENT- As part of the comprehensive services program carried out under section 2, the Secretary shall require each director of a medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out jointly with the benefits director of the region concerned an assessment, pursuant to uniform procedures and guidelines prescribed by the Secretary, of-- (1) the number of homeless people in the area served by each director and the percentage of such people who are veterans; (2) the number of homeless people hospitalized in the medical center of such director during the two-year period ending on the date of the enactment of this Act, including the number hospitalized primarily because of housing-related problems; (3) the nature and extent of services provided by the medical center of such director primarily for the benefit of the homeless (including outreach efforts); (4) the number of staff assigned primarily to such services; (5) the number of homeless veterans served during the months of highest demand for such services during the two-year period ending on the date of the enactment of this Act; and (6) the extent and nature of cooperation carried out by the medical center and regional benefits office with other Federal agencies and State and local governments and other organizations in an effort to assist the homeless. (b) PLAN- (1) For each of the fiscal years 1991 through 1994, each such director shall-- (A) prepare jointly with the regional benefits director concerned and submit to the Secretary a plan, including a request for funding, for meeting the needs of homeless veterans in the area served by such director through the comprehensive services program referred to in section 2; or (B) provide justification, with the concurrence of the regional benefits director, for not submitting such a plan and request. (2) Each such plan shall-- (A) contain the services of such comprehensive services program that the medical director and the regional benefits director concerned have determined are most appropriate for the homeless veterans in the area to be served by the plan, along with a description of the manner in which funds available for carrying out such plan will be expended; (B) provide for a multidisciplinary team of employees to implement the plan; (C) be submitted to the Secretary by the date specified by the Secretary for each fiscal year; (D) be approved by the Secretary as soon as practicable after it is submitted; and (E) be amended as the director and the regional benefits director concerned, with the approval of the Secretary, determines necessary to meet most effectively and efficiently the needs of homeless veterans in the area concerned. (c) FUNDING- (1) The Secretary shall, from funds appropriated pursuant to the authorization in paragraph (2), provide funding to each director to carry out services provided pursuant to sections 4 through 9. (2) There is authorized to be appropriated for carrying out sections 4 through 9 not to exceed $100,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994. (3) Not more than $1,000,000 may be made available to any director for obligation and expenditure during any fiscal year to carry out such sections. SEC. 4. DROP-IN SERVICE CENTERS. (a) ESTABLISHMENT- The Secretary shall provide for the establishment of outreach service centers for homeless veterans in areas where (as determined based upon assessments under section 3(a)) there are a significant number of homeless veterans. Each such center shall be in an appropriate location convenient to places where such veterans congregate and shall provide the services specified in subsection (c) on an unscheduled basis. (b) STAFFING- The Secretary shall ensure that not less than five full-time equivalent employees are assigned to each such center. Such employees shall be in addition to existing Department employees. Employees assigned or detailed to each such center shall include (on a full- or part-time basis) physicians, social workers, psychologists nurses, representatives of the Veterans Benefits Administration, vocational rehabilitation specialists, dentists, optometrists, and such other employees as the Secretary provides. (c) SERVICES- Each center under subsection (a) shall provide the following services to homeless veterans: (1) Fostering of treatment relationships. (2) Development of treatment readiness. (3) Evaluation of eligibility for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and other agencies and assistance in applying for such benefits. (4) Medical and psychiatric evaluation and treatment. (5) Counseling and referral to other services provided by the Department and other agencies. (6) Meals. (7) Hygiene facilities (including showers and laundry facilities). (8) Assistance in seeking review and upgrading of the characterization of discharge from the Armed Forces. (9) Counseling and assistance in obtaining employment or employment skills. SEC. 5. MOBILE SUPPORT TEAMS. (a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall provide mobile support teams to assist in the provision of benefits under this Act. Such teams shall provide services through medically equipped vans and shall provide such services both in areas with a high percentage of homeless veterans and in rural areas without adequate access to Department medical services. (b) SERVICES- Such teams shall provide clinical care, case management, and monitoring services to homeless veterans and to veterans receiving housing assistance under this Act. Such vans may also be used to provide needed transportation services for homeless veterans and other veterans in connection with the provision of benefits under this Act and under title 38, United States Code. SEC. 6. EXPANDED HEALTH SERVICES. (a) DENTAL SERVICES- Section 612(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by striking out `or' at the end of subparagraph (F); (2) by striking out the period at the end of subparagraph (G) and inserting in lieu thereof `; or'; and (3) by adding at the end the following: `(H) from which a veteran who is homeless (as determined by the Secretary) is suffering.'. (b) OPTOMETRIC AND PODIATRIC SERVICES- In providing medical services to homeless veterans under section 612 of title 38, United States Code, the Secretary shall provide optometric and podiatric services without regard to the limitation in section 601(6)(A)(i) of such title limiting eligibility for such services to persons otherwise receiving care or services from the Secretary. The Secretary shall furnish such veterans with appliances, including eyeglasses, which optometric and podiatric examinations indicate are needed. SEC. 7. HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS. (a) IN GENERAL- To the extent provided in the approved plan submitted by a director under section 3(b), such director shall use funds that are received from the Secretary under section 3(c) to make monthly assistance available for housing for homeless veterans, and their families, described in subsection (d)(1)(B). (b) REGULATIONS- The Secretary shall prescribe regulations for carrying out this section after consultation with Federal, State, and local officials and other individuals with significant expertise in housing. (c) AMOUNT OF PAYMENT- The monthly assistance payment for any homeless veteran under this section shall be the amount by which the fair market rental payment standard for the area, as determined by the Secretary, exceeds 30 percent of the monthly income of the household of the homeless veteran, as determined by the Secretary. (d) CONDITIONS- (1) Assistance under this section-- (A) may not be made available for more than a one-year period for any homeless veteran, except that the director of the medical center concerned shall extend such period for any veteran in good standing until the veteran is able to obtain alternative affordable, decent, safe, and sanitary housing; (B) may be made available only to homeless veterans who-- (i)(I) are employed at least 18 hours a week; or (II) are involved in the compensated work therapy program or other employment program conducted, administered, or approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs; and (ii) maintain some other regular periodic contact with an employment, counseling, or training program administered by such Department; and (C) may be made available only with respect to housing that meets State and local housing codes and regulations. (2) Each director shall-- (A) provide for regular visits by a counselor to each housing unit with respect to which assistance is paid under this section; and (B) take steps to ensure that the conditions described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 9(a)(4) are maintained in each housing unit for which assistance is provided under this section. SEC. 8. GROUP HOMES MAINTAINED BY DVA. (a) IN GENERAL- (1) To the extent provided in the approved plan submitted by a director under section 3(b), such director shall use funds that are received from the Secretary under section 3(c) and amounts in the fund described in paragraph (2)(F) to establish and maintain a program, to be carried out in accordance with guidelines described in subsection (b), for the provision of housing owned or leased by the Department of Veterans Affairs in which veterans with chronic mental illness or who are recovering from alcohol or drug abuse may reside. (2) In carrying out such program, each director shall-- (A) provide that assistance be made available only to veterans, with a priority being given to homeless veterans, who-- (i) are employed at least 18 hours a week; or (ii) are involved in the compensated work therapy program or other employment program conducted, administered, or approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs; (B) to the maximum extent practicable, use residential housing located on the grounds of the medical center; (C) provide that the manager of the housing is a veteran and resides therein; (D) provide for substance abuse and other kinds of appropriate counseling in the housing; (E) provide that-- (i) the use of alcohol or any illegal drug in the housing provided by the program will be prohibited; and (ii) any resident of the housing who violates such prohibition will be expelled from the housing; (F) provide that the veterans residing in the housing made available under this section pay rent to the extent of their ability to pay, such payments to be deposited in a fund in the Treasury of the United States that the Secretary shall use to carry out this section; and (G) provide that such housing is in compliance with State and local housing codes and regulations. (b) GUIDELINES- The Secretary shall ensure that each program carried out under subsection (a) is administered, to the maximum extent practicable, in accordance with the guidelines issued under section 1916A(c) of the Public Health Service Act, with the Department of Veterans Affairs performing the functions that the nonprofit private entity performs under such guidelines. SEC. 9. GROUP HOMES THROUGH NONPROFIT PRIVATE ENTITIES. (a) IN GENERAL- To the extent provided in the approved plan submitted by a director under section 3(b), such director shall use funds that are received from the Secretary under section 3(c) to-- (1) establish and maintain a revolving fund to make loans for the costs of establishing programs, to be carried out in accordance with guidelines described in subsection (b), for the provision of housing in which homeless veterans having chronic mental illness or who are recovering from alcohol or drug abuse may reside in groups of not less than four individuals; (2) ensure that each loan made from the revolving fund does not exceed $4,000 and that each such loan is repaid to the revolving fund not later than two years after the date on which the loan is made; (3) ensure that each such loan is repaid through monthly installments and that a reasonable penalty is assessed for each failure to pay such periodic installments by the date specified in the loan agreement involved; and (4) ensure that such loans are made only to nonprofit private entities, approved by the Secretary, agreeing that, in the operation of the program established pursuant to the loan-- (A) the use of alcohol or any illegal drug in the housing provided by the program will be prohibited; (B) any resident of the housing who violates such prohibition will be expelled from the housing; (C) the costs of the housing, including fees for rent and utilities, will be paid by the residents of the housing; and (D) the residents of the housing will, through a majority vote of the residents, establish other policies governing residence in the housing, including the manner in which applications for residence in the housing are approved. (b) GUIDELINES- The Secretary shall ensure that each program carried out under subsection (a) is administered, to the maximum extent practicable, in accordance with the guidelines issued under section 1916A(c) of the Public Health Service Act. SEC. 10. EVALUATIONS AND REPORTS. (a) EVALUATIONS- (1) Taking into consideration the purposes of the comprehensive services program referred to in section 2, the Secretary shall, for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 1994, carry out an evaluation of such program as it was carried out during such fiscal year. (2) Taking into consideration such purposes, the Secretary shall, at the end of fiscal year 1994, carry out an evaluation of such comprehensive services program as it was carried out during fiscal years 1991 through 1994. (b) REPORTS- (1) Within 90 days after the end of each of the fiscal years 1991 through 1994, the Secretary shall transmit to the Congress a report containing the findings and conclusions made by the Secretary as a result of the evaluation carried out under subsection (a)(1) for the fiscal year concerned. (2) Within 120 days after the end of fiscal year 1994, the Secretary shall transmit to the Congress a report containing the findings and conclusions made by the Secretary as a result of the evaluation carried out under subsection (a)(2). SEC. 11. ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS. The Secretary may accept services and equipment (including motor vehicles) donated for the purposes of sections 4, 5, and 6. SEC. 12. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) The term `director' means a director of a medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (2) The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (3) The term `veteran' has the same meaning given such term by section 101(2) of title 38, United States Code.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
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