Homes for Heroes Act - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide assistance to private nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives to expand the supply of supportive housing for very low-income (not exceeding 50 percent of area median income) veteran families.
Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to: (1) make housing rental vouchers available to homeless veterans; and (2) include veterans in public housing planning.
Excludes veterans' benefits from income for purposes of HUD assisted housing rental determinations.
Requires the Secretary to: (1) make grants to nonprofit entities for technical assistance in sponsoring HUD housing projects for veterans; and (2) report annually to specified congressional committees on HUD activities relating to veterans.
Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to establish in HUD a Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs to: (1) ensure veteran access to HUD housing and homeless assistance programs; (2) coordinate all HUD programs and activities relating to veterans; and (3) serve as a HUD liaison with officials of organizations concerned with veterans.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5561 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5561
To provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 8, 2006
Mr. Andrews (for himself and Mr. Renzi) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in
addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs and Ways and Means, 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 provide housing assistance for very low-income 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 ``Homes for Heroes Act''.
SEC. 2. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES.
(a) Purpose.--The purposes of this section are--
(1) to expand the supply of permanent housing for very low-
income veteran families; and
(2) to provide supportive services through such housing to
support the needs of such veteran families.
(b) Authority.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
shall, to the extent amounts are made available for assistance under
this section and the Secretary receives approvable applications for
such assistance, provide assistance to private nonprofit organizations
and consumer cooperatives to expand the supply of supportive housing
for very low-income veteran families. Such assistance shall be
available for use to plan for and finance the construction,
reconstruction, or moderate or substantial rehabilitation of a
structure or a portion of a structure, or the acquisition of a
structure, to be used as supportive housing for very low-income veteran
families in accordance with this section. Assistance may also cover the
cost of real property acquisition, site improvement, conversion,
demolition, relocation, and other expenses that the Secretary
determines are necessary to expand the supply of supportive housing for
very low-income veteran families.
(c) Forms of Assistance.--Assistance under this section shall be
made available in the following forms:
(1) Planning grants.--Assistance may be provided as a grant
for costs of planning a project to be used as supportive
housing for very low-income veteran families.
(2) Capital advances.--Assistance may be provided as
capital advance under this paragraph for a project, which
shall--
(A) bear no interest;
(B) not be required to be repaid so long as the
housing remains available for occupancy by very low-
income veteran families in accordance with this
section; and
(C) be in an amount calculated in accordance with
the development cost limitation established pursuant to
subsection (h).
(3) Project rental assistance.--Assistance may be provided
as project rental assistance, under an annual contract that--
(A) obligates the Secretary to make monthly
payments to cover any part of the costs attributed to
units occupied (or, as approved by the Secretary, held
for occupancy) by very low-income veteran families that
is not met from project income;
(B) provides for the project not more than the sum
of the initial annual project rentals for all units so
occupied and any initial utility allowances for such
units, as approved by the Secretary;
(C) any contract amounts not used by a project in
any year shall remain available to the project until
the expiration of the contract;
(D) provides that the Secretary shall, to the
extent appropriations for such purpose are available,
adjust the annual contract amount if the sum of the
project income and the amount of assistance payments
available under this paragraph are inadequate to
provide for reasonable project costs.
(d) Tenant Rent Contribution.--A very low-income veteran family
shall pay as rent for a dwelling unit assisted under this section the
highest of the following amounts, rounded to the nearest dollar:
(1) 30 percent of the veteran family's adjusted monthly
income.
(2) 10 percent of the veteran family's monthly income.
(3) If the veteran family is receiving payments for welfare
assistance from a public agency and a part of such payments,
adjusted in accordance with the veteran family's actual housing
costs, is specifically designated by such agency to meet the
veteran family's housing costs, the portion of such payments
which is so designated.
(e) Term of Commitment.--
(1) Use limitations.--All units in housing assisted under
this section shall be made available for occupancy by very low-
income veteran families for not less than 15 years.
(2) Contract terms.--The initial term of a contract entered
into under subsection (c)(2) shall be 60 months. The Secretary
shall, to the extent approved in appropriation Acts, extend any
expiring contract for a term of not less than 12 months. In
order to facilitate the orderly extension of expiring
contracts, the Secretary may make commitments to extend
expiring contracts during the year prior to the date of
expiration.
(f) Applications.--Amounts made available under this section shall
be allocated by the Secretary among approvable applications submitted
by private nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives.
Applications for assistance under this section shall be submitted by an
applicant in such form and in accordance with such procedures as the
Secretary shall establish. Such applications shall contain--
(1) a description of the proposed housing;
(2) a description of the assistance the applicant seeks
under this section;
(3) a description of (A) the supportive services to be
provided to the persons occupying such housing; (B) the manner
in which such services will be provided to such persons,
including, in the case of frail elderly persons (as such term
is defined in section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C.
1701q)), evidence of such residential supervision as the
Secretary determines is necessary to facilitate the adequate
provision of such services; and (C) the public or private
sources of assistance that can reasonably be expected to fund
or provide such services;
(4) a certification from the public official responsible
for submitting a housing strategy for the jurisdiction to be
served in accordance with section 105 of the Cranston-Gonzalez
National Affordable Housing Act that the proposed project is
consistent with the approved housing strategy; and
(5) such other information or certifications that the
Secretary determines to be necessary or appropriate to achieve
the purposes of this section.
The Secretary shall not reject an application on technical grounds
without giving notice of that rejection and the basis therefor to the
applicant and affording the applicant an opportunity to respond.
(g) Selection Criteria.--The Secretary shall establish selection
criteria for assistance under this section, which shall include--
(1) criteria based upon--
(A) the ability of the applicant to develop and
operate the proposed housing;
(B) the need for supportive housing for very low-
income veteran families in the area to be served;
(C) the extent to which the proposed size and unit
mix of the housing will enable the applicant to manage
and operate the housing efficiently and ensure that the
provision of supportive services will be accomplished
in an economical fashion;
(D) the extent to which the proposed design of the
housing will meet the physical needs of very low-income
veteran families;
(E) the extent to which the applicant has
demonstrated that the supportive services identified
pursuant to subsection (f)(4) will be provided on a
consistent, long-term basis;
(F) the extent to which the proposed design of the
housing will accommodate the provision of supportive
services that are expected to be needed, either
initially or over the useful life of the housing, by
the very low-income veterans the housing is intended to
serve; and
(G) such other factors as the Secretary determines
to be appropriate to ensure that funds made available
under this section are used effectively;
(2) a preference in such selection for applications
proposing housing to be reserved for occupancy by very low-
income veteran families who are homeless (as such term is
defined in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302); and
(3) criteria appropriate to consider the need for
supportive housing for very low-income veteran families in
nonmetropolitan areas and by Indian tribes.
(h) Provision of Supportive Services to Veteran Families.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the provisions of this
section, the Secretary shall ensure that housing assisted under
this section provides a range of services tailored to the needs
of the very low-income veteran families occupying such housing,
which may include services for--
(A) outreach;
(B) health (including counseling, mental health,
substance abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder)
diagnosis and treatment;
(C) habilitation and rehabilitation;
(D) case management;
(E) daily living;
(F) personal financial planning;
(G) transportation;
(H) vocation;
(I) employment and training;
(J) education;
(K) assistance in obtaining veterans benefits and
public benefits, including health and medical care
provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(L) assistance in obtaining income support;
(M) assistance in obtaining health insurance;
(N) fiduciary and representative payee;
(O) legal aid;
(P) child care;
(Q) housing counseling;
(R) service coordination; and
(S) other services necessary for maintaining
independent living.
(2) Local coordination of services.--The Secretary shall
ensure that owners of housing assisted under this section have
the managerial capacity to--
(A) assess on an ongoing basis the service needs of
residents;
(B) coordinate the provision of supportive services
and tailor such services to the individual needs of
residents; and
(C) seek on a continuous basis new sources of
assistance to ensure the long-term provision of
supportive services.
Any cost associated with this subsection shall be an eligible
cost under subsections (c)(3) and (i).
(i) Financial Assistance for Services.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall,
to the extent amounts are available for assistance under this
subsection pursuant to subsection (o)(2), provide financial
assistance for the provision of supportive services, and for
coordinating the provision of such services, to very low-income
veteran families occupying housing assisted under this section.
Such assistance shall be made through payments to owners of
such housing for each resident of the housing based on the
formula established under paragraph (2).
(2) Formula.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
establish a formula to determine the rate of the payments to be
provided under this subsection. The formula shall determine a
rate for each resident of the housing assisted under this
section (which shall be adjusted not less than annually to take
into consideration changes in the cost of living).
(j) Development Cost Limitations.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall periodically establish
development cost limitations by market area for various types
and sizes of supportive housing for very low-income veteran
families by publishing a notice of the cost limitations in the
Federal Register. The cost limitations shall reflect--
(A) the cost of construction, reconstruction, or
moderate or substantial rehabilitation of supportive
housing for very low-income veteran families that meets
applicable State and local housing and building codes;
(B) the cost of movables necessary to the basic
operation of the housing, as determined by the
Secretary;
(C) the cost of special design features necessary
to make the housing accessible to very low-income
veteran families;
(D) the cost of congregate space necessary to
accommodate the provision of supportive services to
veteran families;
(E) if the housing is newly constructed, the cost
of meeting the energy efficiency standards promulgated
by the Secretary in accordance with section 109 of the
Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act; and
(F) the cost of land, including necessary site
improvement.
In establishing development cost limitations for a given market
area under this subsection, the Secretary shall use data that
reflect currently prevailing costs of construction,
reconstruction, or moderate or substantial rehabilitation, and
land acquisition in the area. For purposes of this paragraph,
the term ``congregate space'' shall include space for
cafeterias or dining halls, community rooms or buildings, child
care centers, workshops, adult day health facilities, or other
outpatient health facilities, or other essential service
facilities. Neither this section nor any other provision of law
may be construed as prohibiting or preventing the location and
operation, in a project assisted under this section, of
commercial facilities for the benefit of residents of the
project and the community in which the project is located,
except that assistance made available under this section may
not be used to subsidize any such commercial facility.
(2) Acquisition.--In the case of existing housing and
related facilities to be acquired, the cost limitations shall
include--
(A) the cost of acquiring such housing,
(B) the cost of rehabilitation, alteration,
conversion, or improvement, including the moderate or
substantial rehabilitation thereof, and
(C) the cost of the land on which the housing and
related facilities are located.
(3) Annual adjustments.--The Secretary shall adjust the
cost limitation not less than annually to reflect changes in
the general level of construction, reconstruction, and moderate
and substantial rehabilitation costs.
(4) Incentives for savings.--
(A) Special housing account.--The Secretary shall
use the development cost limitations established under
paragraph (1) or (2) to calculate the amount of
financing to be made available to individual owners.
Owners which incur actual development costs that are
less than the amount of financing shall be entitled to
retain 50 percent of the savings in a special housing
account. Such percentage shall be increased to 75
percent for owners which add energy efficiency features
which--
(i) exceed the energy efficiency standards
promulgated by the Secretary in accordance with
section 109 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National
Affordable Housing Act;
(ii) substantially reduce the life-cycle
cost of the housing;
(iii) reduce gross rent requirements; and
(iv) enhance tenant comfort and
convenience.
(B) Uses.--The special housing account established
under subparagraph (A) may be used (i) to provide
services to residents of the housing or funds set aside
for replacement reserves, or (ii) for such other
purposes as determined by the Secretary.
(5) Design flexibility.--The Secretary shall, to the extent
practicable, give owners the flexibility to design housing
appropriate to their location and proposed resident population
within broadly defined parameters.
(6) Use of funds from other sources.--An owner shall be
permitted voluntarily to provide funds from sources other than
this section for amenities and other features of appropriate
design and construction suitable for supportive housing under
this section if the cost of such amenities is (A) not financed
with the advance, and (B) is not taken into account in
determining the amount of Federal assistance or of the rent
contribution of tenants. Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, assistance amounts provided under this section may be
treated as amounts not derived from a Federal grant.
(k) Tenant Selection.--
(1) In general.--An owner shall adopt written tenant
selection procedures that are satisfactory to the Secretary as
(A) consistent with the purpose of improving housing
opportunities for very low-income veteran families; and (B)
reasonably related to program eligibility and an applicant's
ability to perform the obligations of the lease. Such tenant
selection procedures shall comply with subtitle C of title VI
of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 and any
regulations issued under such subtitle. Owners shall promptly
notify in writing any rejected applicant of the grounds for any
rejection.
(2) Information regarding housing.--The Secretary shall
provide, to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary
of Labor, information regarding the availability of the housing
assisted under this section. Within 30 days of receipt of the
information, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of
Labor shall provide such information to agencies in the area of
the housing that receive assistance from the Department of
Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor for providing
medical care, housing, supportive services or employment and
training services to homeless veterans.
(l) Miscellaneous Provisions.--
(1) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall make
available appropriate technical assistance to ensure that
prospective applicants and owners are able to participate more
fully in the program carried out under this section.
(2) Civil rights compliance.--Each owner shall certify, to
the satisfaction of the Secretary, that assistance made
available under this section will be conducted and administered
in conformity with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
the Fair Housing Act, and other Federal, State, and local laws
prohibiting discrimination and promoting equal opportunity.
(3) Owner deposit.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall require an
owner of housing assisted under this section to deposit
an amount not to exceed $15,000 in a special escrow
account to ensure the owner's commitment to the
housing.
(B) Reduction of requirement.--The Secretary may
reduce or waive the owner deposit specified under
paragraph (3) for individual applicants if the
Secretary finds that such waiver or reduction is
necessary to achieve the purposes of this section and
the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the
Secretary that it has the capacity to manage and
maintain the housing in accordance with this section.
The Secretary shall reduce or waive the requirement of
the owner deposit under paragraph (3) in the case of a
nonprofit applicant that is not affiliated with a
national sponsor, as determined by the Secretary.
(4) Notice of appeal.--The Secretary shall notify an owner
not less than 30 days prior to canceling any reservation of
assistance provided under this section. During the 30-day
period following the receipt of a notice under the preceding
sentence, an owner may appeal the proposed cancellation. Such
appeal, including review by the Secretary, shall be completed
not later than 45 days after the appeal is filed.
(5) Labor.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall take such
action as may be necessary to ensure that all laborers
and mechanics employed by contractors and
subcontractors in the construction of housing with 12
or more units assisted under this section shall be paid
wages at rates not less than the rates prevailing in
the locality involved for the corresponding classes of
laborers and mechanics employed on construction of a
similar character, as determined by the Secretary of
Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 31 of
title 40, United States Code.
(B) Exemption.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to
any individual who--
(i) performs services for which the
individual volunteered;
(ii)(I) does not receive compensation for
such services; or
(II) is paid expenses, reasonable benefits,
or a nominal fee for such services; and
(iii) is not otherwise employed at any time
in the construction work.
(6) Access to residual receipts.--The Secretary shall
authorize the owner of a housing project assisted under this
section to use any residual receipts held for the project in
excess of $500 per unit (or in excess of such other amount
prescribed by the Secretary based on the needs of the project)
for activities to retrofit and renovate the project described
under section 802(d)(3) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National
Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8011(d)(3)) or to provide
supportive services to residents of the project. Any owner that
uses residual receipts under this paragraph shall submit to the
Secretary a report, not less than annually, describing the uses
of the residual receipts. In determining the amount of project
rental assistance to be provided to a project under subsection
(c)(3) of this section, the Secretary may take into
consideration the residual receipts held for the project only
if, and to the extent that, excess residual receipts are not
used under this paragraph.
(7) Occupancy standards and obligations.--Each owner shall
operate housing assisted under this section in compliance with
subtitle C of title VI of the Housing and Community Development
Act of 1992 (relating to standards and obligations of
residency) and any regulations issued under such subtitle.
(8) Use of project reserves.--Amounts for project reserves
for a project assisted under this section may be used for
costs, subject to reasonable limitations as the Secretary
determines appropriate, for reducing the number of dwelling
units in the project. Such use shall be subject to the approval
of the Secretary to ensure that the use is designed to retrofit
units that are currently obsolete or unmarketable.
(m) Definitions.--
(1) Consumer cooperative.--The term ``consumer
cooperative'' has the same meaning given such term for purposes
of the supportive housing for the elderly program under section
202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q).
(2) Very low-income veteran family.--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 with adjustments for smaller and
larger families, except that the Secretary may establish income
ceiling higher or lower than 50 percent of the median for the
area on the basis of the Secretary's findings that such
variations are necessary because of prevailing levels of
construction costs or fair market rents (as determined under
section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437f), or unusually high or low family incomes.
(3) Owner.--The term ``owner'' means a private nonprofit
organization or consumer cooperative that receives assistance
under this section to develop and operate supportive housing
for very low-income veteran families.
(4) Private nonprofit organization.--The term ``private
nonprofit organization'' means--
(A) any incorporated private institution or
foundation--
(i) no part of the net earnings of which
inures to the benefit of any member, founder,
contributor, or individual;
(ii) which has a governing board that is
responsible for the operation of the housing
assisted under this section; and
(iii) which is approved by the Secretary as
to financial responsibility;
(B) a for-profit limited partnership the sole
general partner of which is an organization meeting the
requirements under clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of
subparagraph (A);
(C) a corporation wholly owned and controlled by an
organization meeting the requirements under clauses
(i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A); and
(D) a tribally designated housing entity, as such
term is defined in section 4 of the Native American
Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996
(25 U.S.C. 4103).
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development, except where specifically
provided otherwise.
(6) State.--The term ``State'' includes the several States,
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and
the possessions of the United States.
(7) Supportive housing for very low-income veteran
families.--The term ``supportive housing for very low-income
veteran families'' means housing that is designed to
accommodate the provision of supportive services that are
expected to be needed, either initially or over the useful life
of the housing, by the veteran families that the housing is
intended to serve.
(8) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given
the term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
(9) Veteran family.--The term ``veteran family'' includes a
veteran who is a single person, a family (including families
with children) whose head of household (or whose spouse) is a
veteran, and one or more veterans living together with one or
more persons.
(n) Allocation of Funds.--Of any amounts made available for
assistance under this section:
(1) Planning grants.--Not more than 2.5 percent shall be
made available for planning grants in accordance with
subsection (c)(1).
(2) Capital advances.--Such sums as may be necessary shall
be made available for capital advances in accordance with
subsection (c)(2).
(3) Project rental assistance.--Such sums as may be
necessary shall be made available for project rental assistance
in accordance with subsection (c)(3).
(4) Technical assistance.--Not more than 1 percent shall be
made available for technical assistance in accordance with
subsection (l)(1).
(o) Funding.--
(1) Authorization of appropriations for housing
assistance.--There is authorized to be appropriated for
assistance under this section $200,000,000 (not including
financial assistance under subsection (i)) for fiscal year 2007
and such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year
thereafter.
(2) Set aside of veterans medical services amounts for
supportive services.--Of any amounts made available in
appropriation Acts for fiscal year 2007 and each fiscal year
thereafter to the Department of Veterans Affairs for medical
services for veterans, there shall be available for financial
assistance under subsection (i) of this section in each such
year such sums as may be necessary to provide payments under
subsection (i) for such fiscal year, at the full rate under the
formula established pursuant to such subsection, for each
resident of each housing project assisted under this section.
SEC. 3. HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.
Section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437f(o)) is amended by striking paragraph (19) and inserting the
following new paragraph:
``(19) Rental vouchers for homeless veterans.--
``(A) Set aside.--Subject to subparagraph (C), the
Secretary shall set aside and transfer to the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, from amounts made available for
rental assistance under this subsection, the amount
specified in subparagraph (B) for use only for
providing such assistance for homeless veterans.
``(B) Amount.--The amount specified in this
subparagraph is, for each fiscal year, the amount
necessary to provide at least 20,000 vouchers for
rental assistance under this subsection.
``(C) Administration of voucher program.--The
Secretary of Veterans Affairs may use amounts
transferred under this paragraph only for funding
contracts for rental assistance under this paragraph to
be administered by entities that receive grants under
section 2011 or 2012 of title 38, United States Code.
Subject only to the availability of amounts for rental
assistance under this paragraph, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall provide, under each such
contract for rental assistance with such an entity,
funding for the entity to provide at least two vouchers
for rental assistance for each unit of transitional
housing being made available by the entity at such
time.
``(D) Funding.--The budget authority made available
under any other provisions of law for rental assistance
under this subsection for fiscal year 2007 and each
fiscal year thereafter is authorized to be increased in
each such fiscal year by such sums as may be necessary
to provide the number of vouchers specified in
subparagraph (B) for such fiscal year.''.
SEC. 4. INCLUSION OF VETERANS IN HOUSING PLANNING.
(a) Public Housing Agency Plans.--Section 5A(d)(1) of the United
States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437c-1(d)) is amended by
striking ``and disabled families'' and inserting ``, disabled families,
and veterans (as such term is defined in section 101 of title 38,
United States Code)''.
(b) Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategies.--
(1) In general.--Section 105 of the Cranston-Gonzalez
National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12705) is amended--
(A) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ``veterans
(as such term is defined in section 101 of title 38,
United States Code),'' after ``acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome,'';
(B) in subsection (b)(20), by striking ``and
service'' and inserting ``veterans service and other
service''; and
(C) in subsection (e)(1), by inserting ``veterans
(as such term is defined in section 101 of title 38,
United States Code),'' after ``homeless persons,''.
(2) Consolidated plans.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development shall revise the regulations relating to submission
of consolidated plans (24 C.F.R. Part 91) in accordance with
the amendments made by paragraph (1) of this subsection to
require inclusion of appropriate information relating to
veterans and veterans service agencies in all such plans.
SEC. 5. EXCLUSION OF VETERANS BENEFITS FROM ASSISTED HOUSING RENT
CONSIDERATIONS.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for
purposes of determining the amount of rent paid by a family for
occupancy of a dwelling unit assisted under a federally assisted
housing program under subsection (b) or in housing assisted under a
federally assisted housing program, the income and the adjusted income
of the family shall not be considered to include any amounts received
by any member of the family from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as--
(1) compensation, as defined in section 101(13) of title
38, United States Code;
(2) dependency and indemnity compensation, as defined in
section 101(14) of such title; and
(3) pension, as defined in section 101(15) of such title.
(b) Federally Assisted Housing Program.--The federally assisted
housing programs under this subsection are--
(1) the public housing program under the United States
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.);
(2) the tenant-based rental assistance program under
section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437f), including the program under subsection (o)(19) of such
section for housing rental vouchers for low-income veteran
families;
(3) the project-based rental assistance program under
section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437f);
(4) the program for housing opportunities for persons with
AIDS under subtitle D of title VIII of the Cranston-Gonzalez
National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12901 et seq.);
(5) the supportive housing for the elderly program under
section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q);
(6) the supportive housing for persons with disabilities
program under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National
Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013);
(7) the supportive housing for the homeless program under
subtitle C of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11381 et seq.);
(8) the program for moderate rehabilitation of single room
occupancy dwellings for occupancy by the homeless under section
441 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
11401);
(9) the shelter plus care for the homeless program under
subtitle F of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11403 et seq.);
(10) the supportive housing for very low-income veteran
families program under section 2 of this Act;
(11) the rental assistance payments program under section
521(a)(2)(A) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C.
1490a(a)(2)(A);
(12) the rental assistance program under section 236 of the
National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715z-1);
(13) the rural housing programs under section 515 and 538
of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485, 1490p-2);
(14) the HOME investment partnerships program under title
II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42
U.S.C. 12721 et seq.);
(15) the block grant programs for affordable housing for
Native Americans and Native Hawaiians under titles I through IV
and VIII of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-
Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4111 et seq., 4221 et
seq.);
(16) the low-income housing tax credit program under
section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 42);
and
(17) any other program for housing assistance administered
by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or the
Secretary of Agriculture under which eligibility for occupancy
in the housing assisted or for housing assistance is based upon
income.
SEC. 6. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR
VETERANS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
shall, to the extent amounts are made available in appropriation Acts
for grants under this section, make grants to eligible entities under
subsection (b) to provide, to nonprofit organizations, technical
assistance appropriate to assist such organizations in--
(1) sponsoring housing projects for veterans assisted under
programs administered by the Department of Housing and Urban
Development;
(2) fulfilling the planning and application processes and
requirements necessary under such programs administered by the
Department; and
(3) assisting veterans in obtaining housing or homeless
assistance under programs administered by the Department.
(b) Eligible Entities.--An eligible entity under this subsection is
a nonprofit entity or organization having such expertise as the
Secretary shall require in providing technical assistance to providers
of services for veterans.
(c) Selection of Grant Recipients.--The Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development shall establish criteria for selecting applicants for
grants under this section to receive such grants and shall select
applicants based upon such criteria.
(d) Funding.--Of any amounts made available in fiscal year 2007 or
any fiscal year thereafter to the Department of Housing and Urban
Development for salaries and expenses, $1,000,000 shall be available,
and shall remain available until expended, for grants under this
section.
SEC. 7. ANNUAL REPORT ON HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS.
(a) In General.--Not later than December 31 of each year, the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall submit to the
Committees on Financial Services, Veterans' Affairs, and Appropriations
of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Banking, Housing,
and Urban Affairs, Veterans' Affairs, and Appropriations of the Senate
a report on the activities relating to veterans of the Department of
Housing and Urban Development during such year.
(b) Contents.--Each report required under subsection (a) shall
include the following information with respect to the year for which
the report is submitted:
(1) The number of very low-income veteran families provided
assistance under the program of supportive housing for very
low-income veteran families under section 2 of this Act, the
socioeconomic characteristics of such families, the types of
assistance provided such families, and the number, types, and
locations of owners of housing assisted under such section.
(2) The number of homeless veterans provided assistance
under the program of housing choice vouchers for homeless
veterans under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing
Act of 1937 (as added by section 3 of this Act), the
socioeconomic characteristics of such homeless veterans, and
the number, types, and locations of entities contracted under
such section to administer the vouchers.
(3) A summary description of the special considerations
made for veterans under public housing agency plans submitted
pursuant to section 5A of the United States Housing Act of 1937
and under comprehensive housing affordability strategies
submitted pursuant to section 105 of the Cranston-Gonzalez
National Affordable Housing Act.
(4) A description of the technical assistance provided to
organizations pursuant to grants under section 6 of this Act.
(5) A description of the activities of the Special
Assistant for Veterans Affairs.
(6) A description of the efforts of the Department of
Housing and Urban Development to coordinate the delivery of
housing and services to veterans with other Federal departments
and agencies, including the Department of Defense, Department
of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human
Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, Interagency Council
on Homelessness, and the Social Security Administration.
(7) The cost to the Department of Housing and Urban
Development of administering the programs and activities
relating to veterans.
(8) Any other information that the Secretary considers
relevant in assessing the programs and activities relating to
veterans of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
(c) Assessment of Housing Needs of Very Low-Income Veteran
Families.--
(1) In general.--For the first report submitted pursuant to
subsection (a) and every fifth report thereafter, the Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development shall--
(A) conduct an assessment of the housing needs of
very low-income veteran families (as such term is
defined for purposes of section 2; and
(B) shall include in each such report findings
regarding such assessment.
(2) Content.--Each assessment under this subsection shall
include--
(A) conducting a survey of, and direct interviews
with, a representative sample of very low-income
veteran families (as such term is defined for purposes
of section 2) to determine past and current--
(i) socioeconomic characteristics of such
veteran families;
(ii) barriers to such veteran families
obtaining safe, quality, and affordable
housing;
(iii) levels of homelessness among such
veteran families;
(iv) levels and circumstances of, and
barriers to, receipt by such veteran families
of rental housing and homeownership assistance;
(B) such other information that the Secretary
determines, in consultation with the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs and national nongovernmental
organizations concerned with veterans, homelessness,
and very low-income housing, may be useful to the
assessment.
(3) Conduct.--If the Secretary contracts with an entity
other than the Department of Housing and Urban Development to
conduct the assessment under this subsection, such entity shall
be a non-governmental organization determined by the Secretary
to have appropriate expertise in quantitative and qualitative
social science research.
(4) Funding.--Of any amounts made available pursuant to
section 501 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970
(42 U.S.C. 1701z-1) for programs of research, studies, testing,
or demonstration relating to the mission or programs of the
Department of Housing and Urban Development for any fiscal year
in which an assessment under this subsection is required
pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, $1,000,000 shall
be available until expended for costs of the assessment under
this subsection.
SEC. 8. SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS IN OFFICE OF SECRETARY
OF HUD.
(a) In General.--Section 4 of the Department of Housing and Urban
Development Act (42 U.S.C. 3533) is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsection:
``(f) Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs.--
``(1) Establishment.--There shall be in the Department a
Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs, who shall be in the
Office of the Secretary.
``(2) Appointment.--The Special Assistant for Veterans
Affairs shall be appointed based solely on merit and shall be
covered under the provisions of title 5, United States Code,
governing appointments in the competitive service.
``(3) Responsibilities.--The Special Assistant for Veterans
Affairs shall be responsible for--
``(A) ensuring veterans have access to housing and
homeless assistance under each program of the
Department providing either such assistance;
``(B) coordinating all programs and activities of
the Department relating to veterans;
``(C) serving as a liaison for the Department, and
establishing and maintaining relationships with,
officials of State, local, regional, and
nongovernmental organizations concerned with veterans;
``(D) providing information and advice regarding--
``(i) sponsoring housing projects for
veterans assisted under programs administered
by the Department; or
``(ii) assisting veterans in obtaining
housing or homeless assistance under programs
administered by the Department;
``(E) administering the technical assistance grants
program under section 6 of the Homes for Heroes Act;
``(F) preparing the annual report under section 7
of such Act; and
``(G) carrying out such other duties as may be
assigned to the Special Assistant by the Secretary or
by law.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, and Ways and Means, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, and Ways and Means, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, and Ways and Means, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, and Ways and Means, 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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line