118 HR 8560 IH: End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2024
U.S. House of Representatives
2024-05-23
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I
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8560
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 23, 2024
Mr. Takano (for himself, Ms. Waters, and Mr. Levin) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 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, and the United States Housing Act of 1937, to make certain improvements to the supported housing program for veterans commonly known as “HUD-VASH”.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2024”.
2.

Clarification of staffing needs for case managers of the Veterans Health Administration with regards to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness
(a)

In general
Section 2003(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
by inserting “(1)” before “The Secretary”;
(2)
by inserting “, and who is determined to require case management,” before “is assigned”; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(2)
In assigning case managers and providing services under this subsection, the Secretary shall prioritize vulnerable homeless veterans, including veterans who are homeless and who have disabilities (including chronic mental illness, chronic substance abuse disorders, or chronic physical disabilities).”.
(b)

Annual report
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shall submit to Congress an annual report on the program under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)), as amended by section 3 of this Act and commonly known as the “HUD-VASH program”, which shall include, for the year covered by the report, each of the following, disaggregated by locality and by demographics (if the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines it appropriate):
(1)
An identification of the number and demographic characteristics of veterans served by the HUD-VASH program.
(2)
The number, qualifications, and demographics of case managers described in section 2003(b) of title 38, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a).
(3)
An assessment of the standard and scope of care provided by such case managers to such veterans, including factors such as—
(A)
staffing ratios;
(B)
practices used in case management;
(C)
frequency with which a case manager contacts a veteran;
(D)
whether a case manager successfully connects a veteran to a requested resource or support; and
(E)
professional licenses or certifications possessed by case managers.
(4)
An assessment of the types of services provided by such case managers to such veterans.
(5)
With regard to vouchers made available under the HUD-VASH program—
(A)
the number requested;
(B)
the number allocated;
(C)
the number used;
(D)
the number assigned but unused; and
(E)
the average time between such assignation and such use.
(6)
The percentage of such veterans who used such a voucher and received case management from such a case manager.
(7)
An identification of barriers that prevented the use of such vouchers by such veterans.
3.

Amendments to HUD-VASH program
Section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (A)—
(A)
in the first sentence—
(i)
by striking “subparagraph (C)” and inserting “subparagraph (B)”; and
(ii)
by striking “the amounts specified in subparagraph (B)” and inserting “amounts”;
(B)
by striking the second sentence and inserting “In the course of administering such program—”; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following new clauses:
“(i)
the Secretary shall provide rental assistance on behalf of a veteran who is—
(I)
homeless;
(II)
at risk of homelessness; or
(III)
receiving assistance under another housing assistance program if the Secretary determines a voucher under this paragraph is a more appropriate form of assistance for such veteran;
(ii)
subject to subparagraph (D), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall furnish case management to a veteran described in clause (i) whom such Secretary (acting through an appropriately licensed or otherwise qualified employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs or an entity that participates in a centralized or coordinated entry system (as defined in section 578.3 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulation) of the Department of Housing and Urban Development) determines requires case management;
(iii)
in the case of a veteran described in clause (ii) who refuses case management—
(I)
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall—
- (aa)
make recurring attempts to engage and build a relationship with the veteran, in order to provide such case management to the veteran, solicit feedback from the veteran, and promote the veteran’s housing stability and opportunities to access health care and other benefits under laws administered by the Secretary; and
- (bb)
provide case management to such veteran if the veteran subsequently requests case management;
(II)
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may not revoke such rental assistance on behalf of the veteran solely on the basis of such refusal;
(III)
a public housing authority may not revoke rental assistance provided by such authority on behalf of the veteran solely on the basis of such refusal; and
(IV)
the owner may not evict or otherwise penalize the veteran solely on the basis of such refusal; and
(iv)
in the case of a veteran described in clause (ii) whose case management is suspended for the health and safety of the veteran or the case manager, the owner may not evict or otherwise penalize the veteran solely on the basis of such suspension.”;
(2)
by striking subparagraph (B);
(3)
by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (B) and (E), respectively;
(4)
by inserting after subparagraph (B), as redesignated the following new subparagraphs:
“(C)

Veterans who do not require case management
A voucher made available under this paragraph may be used for a homeless veteran, or a veteran at risk of homelessness, whom the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines does not require case management if such use is included in the notice of operating requirements of such program.
(D)

Administrative fees
There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for administrative fee payments to public housing agencies for costs of administering vouchers under this paragraph and other eligible expenses, as shall be defined by notice issued by the Secretary, to facilitate the leasing of the vouchers, such as security deposit assistance and other costs related to retention and support of participating owners.”.
4.

GAO report on homeless veterans
(a)

Report required
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing the following, disaggregated by demographics (if the Comptroller General determines it appropriate)—
(1)
a description of the demographic characteristics of veterans served by the HUD-VASH program, disaggregated by whether the veteran is receiving services from a case manager described in section 2003(b) of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 2 of this Act;
(2)
the number, qualifications, and demographic characteristics of such case managers;
(3)
an assessment of the types and quality of case management services provided to veterans by case managers described in section 2003(b) of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 2, disaggregated by locality;
(4)
an assessment of recruitment and retention of such case managers, disaggregated by locality and demographic characteristics; and
(5)
metrics regarding housing stability and retention for veterans participating in Federal housing assistance programs, including veterans who have participated in more than one such program and reasons why veterans ceased to so participate.
(b)

Appropriate congressional committees defined
In this section, the term “appropriate congressional committees” means the following:
(1)
The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives.
(2)
The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate.
(3)
The Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives.
(4)
The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.