,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #che ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #bc1 #bjac ,mr4 ,al ,green of ,texas 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,clay1 ,mr4 ,cleaver1 and ,mr4 ,michaud7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,financial ,services ,a ,,bill ,to establish a pilot program to authorize the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development to make grants to nonprofit organizations to rehabilitate and modify homes of disabled and low-income veterans4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,housing ,assistance for ,veterans ,act of #bjac or the ,,haven ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,disabled ,the term disabled means an individual with a disability1 as defined by section #abajb of title #db1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,eligible veteran ,the term eligible veteran means a disabled or low-income veteran4 7#c7 ,energy efficient features or equipment ,the term energy efficient features or equipment means features of1 or equipment in1 a primary residence that help reduce the amount of electricity used to heat1 cool1 or ventilate such residence1 including insulation1 weatherstripping1 air sealing1 heating system repairs1 duct sealing1 or other measures4 7#d7 ,low-income veteran ,the term low-income veteran means a veteran whose income does not exceed #hj percent of the median income for an area1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#e7 ,nonprofit organization ,the term nonprofit organization means an organization that is-- 7,a7 described in section #eja7;c77#c7 or #eja7;c77#ai7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf2 and 7,b7 exempt from tax under section #eja7;a7 of such ,code4 7#f7 ,primary residence 7,a7 ,in general ,the term primary residence means a single family house1 a duplex1 or a unit within a multiple-dwelling structure that is an eligible veteran's principal dwelling and is owned by such veteran or a family member of such veteran4 7,b7 ,family member defined ,for purposes of this paragraph1 the term family member includes-- 7i7 a spouse1 child1 grandchild1 parent1 or sibling2 7ii7 a spouse of such a child1 grandchild1 parent1 or sibling2 or 7iii7 any individual related by blood or affinity whose close association with a veteran is the equivalent of a family relationship4 7#g7 ,qualified organization ,the term qualified organization means a nonprofit organization that provides nationwide or statewide programs that primarily serve veterans or low-income individuals4 7#h7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development4 7#i7 ,veteran ,the term veteran has the same meaning as given such term in section #aja of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#aj7 ,veterans service organization ,the term veterans service organization means any organization recognized by the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs for the representation of veterans under section #eijb of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 #c4 ,establishment of a pilot program 7a7 ,grant 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish a pilot program to award grants to qualified organizations to rehabilitate and modify the primary residence of eligible veterans4 7#b7 ,coordination ,the ,secretary shall work in conjunction with the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to establish and oversee the pilot program and to ensure that such program meets the needs of eligible veterans4 7#c7 ,maximum grant ,a grant award under the pilot program to any one qualified organization shall not exceed #a1jjj1jjj in any one fiscal year1 and such an award shall remain available until expended by such organization4 7b7 ,application 7#a7 ,in general ,each qualified organization that desires a grant under the pilot program shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and1 in addition to the information required under paragraph 7#b71 accompanied by such information as the ,secretary may reasonably require4 7#b7 ,contents ,each application submitted under paragraph 7#a7 shall include-- 7,a7 a plan of action detailing outreach initiatives2 7,b7 the approximate number of veterans the qualified organization intends to serve using grant funds2 7,c7 a description of the type of work that will be conducted1 such as interior home modifications1 energy efficiency improvements1 and other similar categories of work2 and 7,d7 a plan for working with the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs and veterans service organizations to identify veterans and serve their needs4 7#c7 ,preferences ,in awarding grants under the pilot program1 the ,secretary shall give preference to a qualified organization-- 7,a7 with experience in providing housing rehabilitation and modification services for disabled veterans2 or 7,b7 that proposes to provide housing rehabilitation and modification services for eligible veterans who live in rural areas 7the ,secretary1 through regulations1 shall define the term rural areas74 7c7 ,criteria ,in order to receive a grant award under the pilot program1 a qualified organization shall meet the following criteria3 7#a7 ,demonstrate expertise in providing housing rehabilitation and modification services for disabled or low-income individuals for the purpose of making the homes of such individuals accessible1 functional1 and safe for such individuals4 7#b7 ,have established outreach initiatives that-- 7,a7 would engage eligible veterans and veterans service organizations in projects utilizing grant funds under the pilot program2 and 7,b7 identify eligible veterans and their families and enlist veterans involved in skilled trades1 such as carpentry1 roofing1 plumbing1 or ,,hvac work4 7#c7 ,have an established nationwide or statewide network of affiliates that are-- 7,a7 nonprofit organizations2 and 7,b7 able to provide housing rehabilitation and modification services for eligible veterans4 7#d7 ,have experience in successfully carrying out the accountability and reporting requirements involved in the proper administration of grant funds1 including funds provided by private entities or ,federal1 ,state1 or local government entities4 7d7 ,use of funds ,a grant award under the pilot program shall be used-- 7#a7 to modify and rehabilitate the primary residence of an eligible veteran1 and may include-- 7,a7 installing wheelchair ramps1 widening exterior and interior doors1 reconfigurating and re-equipping bathrooms 7which includes installing new fixtures and grab bars71 removing doorway thresholds1 installing special lighting1 adding additional electrical outlets and electrical service1 and installing appropriate floor coverings to-- 7i7 accommodate the functional limitations that result from having a disability2 or 7ii7 if such residence does not have modifications necessary to reduce the chances that an elderly1 but not disabled person1 will fall in their home1 reduce the risks of such an elderly person from falling2 7,b7 rehabilitating such residence that is in a state of interior or exterior disrepair2 and 7,c7 installing energy efficient features or equipment if-- 7i7 an eligible veteran's monthly utility costs for such residence is more than #e percent of such veteran's monthly income2 and 7ii7 an energy audit of such residence indicates that the installation of energy efficient features or equipment will reduce such costs by #aj percent or more2 7#b7 in connection with modification and rehabilitation services provided under the pilot program1 to provide technical1 administrative1 and training support to an affiliate of a qualified organization receiving a grant under such pilot program2 and 7#c7 for other purposes as the ,secretary may prescribe through regulations4 7e7 ,oversight ,the ,secretary shall direct the oversight of the grant funds for the pilot program so that such funds are used efficiently until expended to fulfill the purpose of addressing the adaptive housing needs of eligible veterans4 7f7 ,matching funds 7#a7 ,in general ,a qualified organization receiving a grant under the pilot program shall contribute towards the housing modification and rehabilitation services provided to eligible veterans an amount equal to not less than #ej percent of the grant award received by such organization4 7#b7 ,in-kind contributions ,in order to meet the requirement under paragraph 7#a71 such organization may arrange for in-kind contributions4 7g7 ,limitation cost to the veterans ,a qualified organization receiving a grant under the pilot program shall modify or rehabilitate the primary residence of an eligible veteran at no cost to such veteran 7including application fees7 or at a cost such that such veteran pays no more than #cj percent of his or her income in housing costs during any month4 7h7 ,reports 7#a7 ,annual report ,the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress1 on an annual basis1 a report that provides1 with respect to the year for which such report is written-- 7,a7 the number of eligible veterans provided assistance under the pilot program2 7,b7 the socioeconomic characteristics of such veterans1 including their gender1 age1 race1 and ethnicity2 7,c7 the total number1 types1 and locations of entities contracted under such program to administer the grant funding2 7,d7 the amount of matching funds and in-kind contributions raised with each grant2 7,e7 a description of the housing rehabilitation and modification services provided1 costs saved1 and actions taken under such program2 7,f7 a description of the outreach initiatives implemented by the ,secretary to educate the general public and eligible entities about such program2 7,g7 a description of the outreach initiatives instituted by grant recipients to engage eligible veterans and veteran service organizations in projects utilizing grant funds under such program2 7,h7 a description of the outreach initiatives instituted by grant recipients to identify eligible veterans and their families2 and 7,i7 any other information that the ,secretary considers relevant in assessing such program4 7#b7 ,final report ,not later than #f months after the completion of the pilot program1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report that provides such information that the ,secretary considers relevant in assessing the pilot program4 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated for carrying out this ,act #d1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjac through #bjag4