Helping Our Homeless Veterans Act of 2011 - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to enter into agreements with state or local government agencies, tribal organizations, and nonprofit organizations to collaborate in the provision of case management services to expand and improve the provision of supported housing services and related outreach to veterans, including veterans in rural areas or underserved veterans who live in metropolitan areas or on Indian lands. Outlines support services to be provided, including the maintenance of referral networks for homeless veterans. Requires each entity chosen to report annually to the Secretary on collaborative services undertaken.
Includes within case management services personal health and development assistance and housing assistance for veterans.
[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1133 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1133
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements with States and nonprofit
organizations to collaborate in the provision of case management
services associated with certain supported housing programs for
veterans, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 16, 2011
Mr. Filner introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on
Financial Services, 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, to authorize the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements with States and nonprofit
organizations to collaborate in the provision of case management
services associated with certain supported housing programs for
veterans, and for other purposes.
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 ``Helping Our Homeless Veterans Act of
2011''.
SEC. 2. COLLABORATION IN PROVISION OF CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO
VETERANS IN SUPPORTED HOUSING PROGRAM.
(a) Collaboration Authorized.--
(1) In general.--Subchapter V of chapter 20 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``Sec. 2045. Collaboration in provision of case management services to
veterans in supported housing program
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may enter into agreements with
eligible entities to collaborate in the provision of case management
services as part of the supported housing program carried out under
section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437f(o)(19)) to expand and improve the provision of supported housing
services and related outreach to veterans, including veterans who live
in rural areas or underserved veterans who live in metropolitan areas
or on Indian lands.
``(b) Eligible Entities.--For purposes of this section, an eligible
entity is any entity that--
``(1) is--
``(A) a State or local government agency;
``(B) a tribal organization (as such term is
defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination
and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)); or
``(C) a nonprofit organization;
``(2) has the capacity (as determined by the Secretary) to
collaborate in the provision of case management services as
described in subsection (a); and
``(3) agrees--
``(A) to ensure access to case management services
to veterans described in subsection (a) on an as-needed
basis;
``(B) to maintain referral networks for homeless
veterans for purposes of assisting such veterans in
demonstrating eligibility for assistance and additional
services under entitlement and assistance programs
available for such veterans, and to otherwise aid such
veterans in obtaining such assistance and services;
``(C) to ensure the confidentiality of records
maintained by the entity on veterans receiving services
through the supported housing program described in
subsection (a);
``(D) to establish such procedures for fiscal
control and fund accounting as the Secretary considers
appropriate to ensure proper disbursement and
accounting of funds under the agreement entered into by
the entity under this section;
``(E) to submit to the Secretary each year, in such
form and such manner as the Secretary may require, a
report on the collaboration undertaken by the entity
under this section, including a description of--
``(i) the services and assistance provided
to veterans as part of such collaboration; and
``(ii) the specific goals set by the entity
for the provision of such services and
assistance and whether the entity achieved such
goals; and
``(F) to meet such other requirements as the
Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of this
section.
``(c) Selection of Eligible Entities.--(1) Not later than one year
after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall
establish a process for the receipt and consideration of proposals
submitted under paragraph (2), including the appropriate form, manner,
and time for submittal of such proposals.
``(2) An eligible entity seeking to enter into an agreement under
this section shall submit to the Secretary a proposal therefor in
accordance with the process established by the Secretary pursuant to
paragraph (1).
``(3) Each proposal submitted under paragraph (2) shall set forth a
description of the collaboration proposed to be undertaken by the
entity concerned, including the following:
``(A) A description of the region in which the entity
proposes to collaborate in the provision of case management
services described in subsection (a), including a description
of resources and services already available to veterans
described in such subsection in such region and a description
of any gaps in such resources and services available to
veterans in such region.
``(B) A description of the veterans described in subsection
(a) in the region described in subparagraph (A) and the needs
of such veterans for supported housing services.
``(C) A description of the capacity of the entity to
provide services to veterans described in subparagraph (B) to
meet their needs for the services described in such
subparagraph.
``(D) Plans, specifications, and a schedule for the
provision of case management services under subsection (a).
``(d) Case Management Services.--For purposes of this section, case
management services include the following:
``(1) Personal health and development assistance, including
such assistance relating to the following:
``(A) Health care and referrals for health care.
``(B) Mental health.
``(C) Substance abuse.
``(D) Counseling.
``(E) Family support.
``(F) Benefits and employment counseling.
``(G) Job training and placement.
``(H) Education on personal finance.
``(I) Hygiene facilities.
``(J) Meals.
``(K) Transportation.
``(2) Housing assistance for veterans, including:
``(A) Assistance locating affordable housing,
assistance with scheduling appointments to view
available housing, accompanying veterans when viewing
available housing, assistance with negotiating leases,
and assistance with reviewing tenant leases.
``(B) Rental and rent subsidies.
``(C) Assistance in working with public housing
agencies.
``(D) Assistance in understanding lease terms and
landlord and tenant laws.
``(E) Assistance in understanding fair housing
laws.
``(F) Assistance in the resolution or prevention of
mortgage delinquency, including assistance with matters
relating to default, foreclosure, loss mitigation,
budgeting, and credit.
``(G) Assistance with home maintenance and
financial management.
``(H) Such other assistance in connection with
locating housing and maintaining housing stability as
the Secretary considers appropriate.
``(3) Such other case management services, outreach, and
other services as the Secretary considers appropriate.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of chapter 20 of such title is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 2044 the following new item:
``2045. Collaboration in provision of case management services to
veterans in supported housing program.''.
(b) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than two years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall submit to Congress a report on the collaboration of the
Secretary in the provision of case management services under
section 2045 of title 38, United States Code (as added by
subsection (a)).
(2) Elements.--The report under paragraph (1) shall include
the following:
(A) The number of eligible entities with whom the
Secretary has entered into an agreement under section
2045 of title 38, United States Code (as so added).
(B) A description of the geographic regions in
which such eligible entities provide services under
such section.
(C) The number of veterans who received case
management services from eligible entities under such
section, disaggregated by--
(i) underserved veterans in metropolitan
areas;
(ii) underserved veterans who live on
Indian lands; and
(iii) veterans in rural areas.
(D) An assessment of the feasibility and
advisability of entering into agreements with eligible
entities under such section.
(E) Such recommendations for legislative or
administrative action as the Secretary considers
appropriate for the improvement of the authorities on
collaboration in the provision of case management
services under such section.
SEC. 3. DISTRIBUTION OF RENTAL VOUCHERS TO VETERANS IN RURAL AREAS AND
UNDERSERVED VETERANS IN METROPOLITAN AREAS.
(a) In General.--Subchapter V of chapter 20 of title 38, United
States Code, as amended by section 2(a)(1), is further amended by
adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 2046. Distribution of rental vouchers to veterans in rural areas
and underserved veterans in metropolitan areas
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall, in consultation with the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, ensure that the
distribution of vouchers to veterans under the supported housing
program carried out under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing
Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) meets the needs of veterans in
rural areas and underserved veterans in metropolitan areas or on Indian
lands in each region of the United States by using--
``(1) statistical data and analysis;
``(2) recommendations from any recipients of grants under
the Continuum of Care Program set forth under subtitle C of
title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 11381 et seq.); or
``(3) such other means as Secretary considers appropriate.
``(b) Agreements With Nonprofit and State and Local Government
Agencies.--The Secretary shall consider how agreements under section
2045(a) of this title can be used to ensure the distribution of
vouchers as described in subsection (a) of this section.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 20 of such title is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 2045, as added by section 2(a)(2), the following
new item:
``2046. Distribution of rental vouchers to veterans in rural areas and
underserved veterans in metropolitan
areas.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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 Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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 Health.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity.
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