Comprehensive Service Programs for Homeless Veterans Act of 1991 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide, either directly or by contract, for the establishment of not less than 25 outreach service centers for homeless veterans in areas where there is a significant number of such veterans.
Prohibits the Secretary from contracting for the provision of such centers unless: (1) the contractor agrees to pay at least 25 percent of the amounts necessary to provide materials and services under the contract; and (2) the Secretary has determined that the contractor has the capacity to carry out such an agreement.
Requires at least seven full-time employees to be assigned to each center, in addition to individuals currently employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Requires assigned employees to include medical and psychiatric care professionals and case managers. Outlines services to be provided at such centers, including case management, health care, mental health and employment counseling, social services, hygiene facilities, benefits assistance, legal assistance, transportation assistance, meals, and other appropriate services.
Requires at least 35 percent of the centers to be established through contracts with private nonprofit providers.
Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 through 1994.
Directs the Secretary to provide, either directly or by contract, not less than 20 mobile support teams to provide services through medically equipped vans in areas with a high percentage of homeless veterans and in rural areas without adequate access to medical services of the Department. Requires such services to include clinical care, case management, monitoring, meals, benefits assistance, and transportation services. Requires at least 35 percent of such mobile support teams to be provided through contracts with private nonprofit providers.
Authorizes appropriations for FY 1992 through 1994.
Directs the Secretary to provide for not less than 50 transitional group homes whose only residents shall be homeless veterans. Requires such homes to be established primarily in residential areas. Requires the following with respect to such transitional housing: (1) that the manager of the housing is a veteran who resides there; (2) that such residents have access to job training, substance abuse rehabilitation, health care, mental health services, case management, benefits assistance, and transportation; (3) that such residents are either employed part-time or involved in job training; (4) that appropriate veterans participate in a substance abuse counseling or rehabilitation program; (5) that alcohol or drug use in such housing will be prohibited and violators expelled; (6) that veterans residing in the housing pay rent to the extent of their ability to pay; and (7) that such housing is in compliance with State and local housing codes and regulations. Requires at least 35 percent of the group housing to be provided through contracts with private nonprofit providers.
Authorizes appropriations.
Directs the Secretary to conduct evaluations and report to the Congress on the outreach service centers program, the mobile support teams program, and the transitional group homes program. Authorizes the Secretary to accept services and equipment donated for such programs. Authorizes the Secretary to contract with nonprofit organizations for services performed or utilized under the outreach service centers program or the transitional group housing program.
HR 2648 IH 102d CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2648 To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and maintain certain programs for homeless veterans. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 13, 1991 Mr. KENNEDY (for himself, Mr. EVANS, and Mr. STAGGERS) 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 certain programs 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 Service Programs for Homeless Veterans Act of 1991'. SEC. 2. DROP-IN SERVICE CENTERS. (a) ESTABLISHMENT- (1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide, directly or by contract, for the establishment of not less than 25 outreach service centers for homeless veterans in areas where there is a significant number of homeless veterans. Each such center-- (A) shall be in an appropriate location convenient to places where such veterans congregate; (B) shall provide the services specified in subsection (c) on an unscheduled basis; and (C) may be used as the center for homeless veterans outreach staff from nonprofit organizations, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Labor, and other appropriate agencies or organizations. (2) The Secretary may not enter into a contract under this section or section 4 with any contractor unless-- (A) the contractor agrees to provide at least an amount equal to 25 percent of the amount needed to provide materials and services under the contract concerned, with such amount being provided with public or private funding or in-kind with volunteer or other personnel; and (B) the Secretary has determined that the contractor has the capacity to carry out such agreement. (b) STAFFING- (1) The Secretary shall ensure that not less than seven full-time equivalent employees are assigned to each such center. Such employees shall be in addition to individuals employed by the Department on the date of the enactment of this Act and may include personnel provided through contract with community service providers that have a demonstrated expertise in working with homeless veterans. (2) Employees assigned or detailed to each such center shall include (on a full- or part-time basis) medical and psychiatric care professionals and case managers. (c) SERVICES- Each center established under subsection (a) shall provide case management, health care, mental health and employment counseling services, social services, hygiene facilities (including showers and laundry facilities), benefits assistance, legal assistance, transportation assistance, meals, and such other services as the Secretary determines necessary to meet the needs of the veterans served by the center. (d) CONTRACTING- (1) At least 35 percent of the centers established under this section shall be established through contracts entered into by the Secretary with nonprofit private providers. (2) The Secretary shall provide-- (A) that all applications by such providers are made to the Department of Veterans Affairs office located in Washington, D.C.; and (B) that all awards under this section are made through such office. (3) No contract may be awarded under this section unless appropriated funds are available to the extent necessary for such purpose. (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section not more than $12,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1992, 1993, and 1994. SEC. 3. MOBILE SUPPORT TEAMS. (a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall provide, directly or by contract, not less than 20 mobile support teams to provide services through medically equipped vans in areas with a high percentage of homeless veterans and in rural areas without adequate access to medical services of the Department of Veterans Affairs. (b) SERVICES- Such teams shall provide clinical care, case management, monitoring services, meals, benefit assistance, and needed transportation services for homeless veterans. (c) CONTRACTING- (1) At least 35 percent of the teams provided under this section shall be provided through contracts entered into by the Secretary with nonprofit private providers. (2) The Secretary shall provide-- (A) that all applications by such providers are made to the Department of Veterans Affairs office located in Washington, D.C.; and (B) that all awards under this section are made through such office. (3) No contract may be awarded under this section unless appropriated funds are available to the extent necessary for such purpose. (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section not more than $9,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1992, 1993, and 1994. SEC. 4. TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. (a) IN GENERAL- (1) The Secretary shall provide for not less than 50 transitional group homes whose only residents are homeless veterans. In providing for such group homes, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, establish, or provide for the establishment of, such homes within areas that are primarily residential. (2) To provide such housing, the Secretary may-- (A) lease or purchase property or contract with nonprofit organizations with a demonstrated expertise in working with homeless veterans; and (B) use residential housing located on the grounds of a medical center of the Department directly or by lease to such nonprofit organizations. (b) IMPLEMENTATION- In carrying out such program, the Secretary shall provide-- (1) that the manager of the housing is a veteran and resides therein; (2) that residents of such housing have access to job training services, substance abuse rehabilitation, health care, mental health services, case management, benefits assistance, and transportation; (3) that such residents-- (A) are employed at least 18 hours a week or are involved in job training; and (B) if necessary, maintain involvement with a counseling program that may include a substance abuse rehabilitation program; (4) that-- (A) the use of alcohol or any illegal drug in the housing provided by the program will be prohibited; and (B) any resident of the housing who violates such prohibition will be expelled from the housing; (5) that the veterans residing in the housing made available under this section pay rent to the extent of their ability to pay; and (6) that such housing is in compliance with State and local housing codes and regulations. (c) CONTRACTING- (1) At least 35 percent of the group homes provided under this section shall be provided through contracts entered into by the Secretary with nonprofit private providers. (2) The Secretary shall provide-- (A) that all applications by such providers are made to the Department of Veterans Affairs office located in Washington, D.C.; and (B) that all awards under this section are made through such office. (3) No contract may be awarded under this section unless appropriated funds are available to the extent necessary for such purpose. (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section not more than $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1992, 1993, and 1994. SEC. 5. EVALUATIONS AND REPORTS. (a) EVALUATIONS- The Secretary shall, during fiscal year 1992, carry out an evaluation of the programs carried out under sections 2, 3, and 4. (b) REPORTS- Within 60 days after the end of fiscal year 1992, 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). SEC. 6. ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY. (a) DONATIONS- The Secretary may accept services and equipment (including motor vehicles) donated for the purposes of carrying out sections 2, 3, and 4. (b) CONTRACTING- The Secretary may enter into agreements with nonprofit organizations by which the Department of Veterans Affairs would pay for services performed, under the direction of such an organization, by residents of the housing funded under section 4 or by homeless veterans who utilize the service centers established under section 2. SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (2) 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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