,,ii #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #ahhe ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #bi1 #bjae ,mr4 ,blumenthal 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 ,mr4 ,brown1 and ,ms4 ,hirono7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to improve the provision of assistance and benefits to veterans who are homeless1 at risk of becoming homeless1 or occupying temporary housing1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,veteran ,housing ,stability ,act of #bjae4 #b4 ,expansion of definition of homeless veteran for purposes of benefits under the laws administered by the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs ,section #bjjb7a7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking in section #ajc7;a7 of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacjb7;a77 and inserting in subsection 7a7 or 7b7 of section #ajc of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacjb74 #c4 ,program on provision of intensive case management interventions to homeless veterans who receive the most health care from the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs 7a7 ,program required 7#a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,,vii of chapter #bj of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #bjfg4 ,intensive case management interventions 7a7 ,program required ,the ,secretary shall carry out a program under which the ,secretary shall provide intensive case management interventions to covered veterans4 7b7 ,covered veterans ,for purposes of the program1 a covered veteran is a veteran who is enrolled in-- 7#a7 the homeless registry of the ,department2 and 7#b7 the system of annual patient enrollment established and operated by the ,secretary under section #agje7;a7 of this title4 7c7 ,location 7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall carry out the program at not fewer than six locations selected by the ,secretary for purposes of the program as follows3 7,a7 ,not fewer than three locations in cities that have the largest populations of homeless veterans in the ,united ,states4 7,b7 ,not fewer than three locations in suburban or rural settings4 7#b7 ,in selecting locations under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall only select locations in areas in which the ,secretary determines that there is a high degree of interaction and coordination between the ,department and community organizations that provide housing and social services for veterans1 such as outreach1 employment1 and financial assistance for homeless veterans1 veterans at risk of becoming homeless1 and low-income veterans4 7d7 ,provision of intensive case management interventions 7#a7 ,in carrying out the program at each location selected under subsection 7c71 the ,secretary shall provide intensive case management interventions to not fewer than #bj covered veterans at each such location who the ,secretary determines are the covered veterans at such location who receive the most health care and related services furnished by the ,department4 7#b7 ,the intensive case management interventions provided to covered veterans under paragraph 7#a7 shall include assistance with gaining and maintaining access to such housing and services1 including benefits and services to which covered veterans may be entitled or eligible under the laws administered by the ,secretary1 as may be necessary to improve the stability of their housing and the appropriateness of the health care that they receive4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of chapter #bj of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #bjff the following new item3 #bjfg4 ,intensive case management interventions4 4 7b7 ,commencement ,not later than ,september #a1 #bjaf1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall commence carrying out the program required by section #bjfg7;a7 of such title1 as added by subsection 7a77#a74 7c7 ,report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than ,december #a1 #bjah1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives a report on the program carried out under section #bjfg of such title1 as added by subsection 7a77#a74 7#b7 ,contents ,the report submitted under paragraph 7#a7 shall include assessments of the following3 7,a7 ,the types and frequencies of intensive case management interventions provided under the program4 7,b7 ,the housing status of each veteran who received an intensive case management intervention under the program4 7,c7 ,the employment status of each veteran who received an intensive case management intervention under the program1 including a comparison of the employment status of such veteran before and after receiving such intervention4 7,d7 ,the use by veterans who received intensive case management interventions under the program of health care and related services furnished by the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs and the costs incurred by the ,department in furnishing such care and services1 including a comparison of the use by such veterans of such care and services and the costs incurred from furnishing such care and services before and after receiving such interventions4 7,e7 ,the number of veterans who received intensive case management interventions under the program1 disaggregated by whether the intensive case management intervention was provided in a location described in subparagraph 7,a7 or 7,b7 of section #bjfg7;c77#a7 of such title1 as added by subsection 7a77#a74 7,f7 ,the costs incurred by the ,department in carrying out the program1 disaggregated by provision of intensive case management interventions in locations described in subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 of such section4 7,g7 ,an estimate of the costs the ,department would have incurred for the provision of health care and associated services to covered veterans 7as described in subsection 7b7 of section #bjfg of such title1 as added by subsection 7a77#a77 but for the provision of intensive case management interventions under the program1 disaggregated by provision of intensive case management interventions in locations described in subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 of subsection 7c7 of such section4 #d4 ,program to improve retention of housing by formerly homeless veterans and veterans at risk of becoming homeless 7a7 ,program required 7#a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,,ii of chapter #bj of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7,a7 by redesignating section #bjac as section #bjad2 and 7,b7 by inserting after section #bjab the following new section #bjac3 #bjac4 ,program to improve retention of housing by formerly homeless veterans and veterans at risk of becoming homeless 7a7 ,program required ,the ,secretary shall carry out a program under which the ,secretary shall provide case management services to improve the retention of housing by veterans who were previously homeless and are transitioning to permanent housing and veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless4 7b7 ,grants 7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall carry out the program through the award of grants4 7#b7 7,a7 ,in awarding grants under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall give priority to organizations that demonstrate a capability to provide case management services as described in subsection 7a71 particularly organizations that are successfully providing or have successfully provided transitional housing services using amounts provided by the ,secretary under sections #bjab and #bjfa of this title4 7,b7 ,in giving priority under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall give extra priority to an organization described in such subparagraph that-- 7i7 voluntarily stops receiving amounts provided by the ,secretary under sections #bjab and #bjfa of this title2 and 7ii7 converts a facility that the organization used to provide transitional housing services into a facility that the organization uses to provide permanent housing that meets housing quality standards established under section #h7o77#h77;,b7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;f7o77#h77;,b774 7,c7 ,in any case in which a facility1 with respect to which a person received a grant for construction1 rehabilitation1 or acquisition under section #bjaa of this title1 is converted as described in subparagraph 7,b77ii71 such conversion shall be considered to have been carried out pursuant to the needs of the ,department and such person shall not be considered in non-compliance with the terms of such grant by reason of such conversion4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of chapter #bj of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section #bjac and inserting the following new items3 #bjac4 ,program to improve retention of housing by formerly homeless veterans and veterans at risk of becoming homeless4#bjad4 ,authorization of appropriations4 4 7b7 ,regulations ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall prescribe regulations to carry out section #bjac of such title1 as added by subsection 7a77#a77;,b74 7c7 ,report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than ,june #a1 #bjai1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives a report on the program required by section #bjac of such title1 as added by subsection 7a77#a77;,b74 7#b7 ,contents ,the report submitted under paragraph 7#a7 shall include assessments of the following3 7,a7 ,the percentage of veterans who received case management services under the program who were able to retain permanent housing by the end of the pilot program1 disaggregated by each recipient of a grant under such section4 7,b7 ,the percentage of veterans who received case management services under the program who were not in permanent housing at the end of the program1 disaggregated by housing status and reason for failing to retain permanent housing under the program4 7,c7 ,the use by veterans who received case management services under the program of housing assistance furnished by the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 including a comparison of the use of such assistance by such veterans before and after receiving such services4 7,d7 ,an assessment of the employment status of veterans who received case management services under the program1 including a comparison of the employment status of such veterans before and after receiving such services4 #e4 ,expansion of housing assistance program of ,department of ,veterans ,affairs 7a7 ,in general ,section #bjda of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in the section heading1 by adding at the end the following3 1 veterans in temporary housing1 and very low-income veteran families2 and 7#b7 in subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a71 in the matter before subparagraph 7,a71 by striking ,to assist homeless veterans and their families in acquiring shelter and inserting ,to assist homeless veterans and their families1 veterans and their families who are at risk of becoming homeless1 and very low-income veteran families 7as defined in section #bjdd7;f7 of this title7 in acquiring shelter1 in acquiring and transitioning to permanent housing1 and in maintaining occupancy in permanent housing2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking homeless veterans and inserting veterans and families described in paragraph 7#a72 and 7,c7 in paragraph 7#c77;,b7-- 7i7 in clause 7i71 by striking solely as a shelter primarily for homeless veterans and their families and inserting to provide permanent or transitional housing for veterans and families described in paragraph 7#a72 7ii7 in clause 7iii71 by striking and at the end2 7iii7 by redesignating clause 7iv7 as clause 7v72 7iv7 by inserting after clause 7iii7 the following new clause 7iv73 7iv7 ensure that veterans who receive housing at the property also receive referrals for the benefits and services to which they may be entitled or eligible under this title1 and 2 and 7v7 in clause 7v71 as redesignated by clause 7iii7 of this subparagraph1 by striking homeless veterans and inserting veterans and families described in paragraph 7#a74 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of chapter #bj of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section #bjda and inserting the following new item3 #bjda4 ,housing assistance for homeless veterans1 veterans in temporary housing1 and very low-income veteran families4 4 #f4 ,outreach relating to increasing the amount of housing available to veterans ,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall1 in collaboration with the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 public housing authorities1 tribally designated housing entities1 realtors1 landlords1 property management companies1 developers1 and such other persons as the ,secretary considers appropriate1 conduct outreach to realtors1 landlords1 property management companies1 and developers to educate them about the housing needs of veterans and the benefits of having veterans as tenants4 #g4 ,establishment of ,national ,center on ,homelessness ,among ,veterans 7a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,,vii of chapter #bj of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as amended by section #c7;a77#a71 is further amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #bjfh4 ,national ,center on ,homelessness ,among ,veterans 7a7 ,in general 7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall establish and operate a center to carry out the functions described in subsection 7b74 7#b7 ,the center establish under paragraph 7#a7 shall be known as the ,national ,center on ,homelessness ,among ,veterans4 7#c7 ,to the degree practicable1 the ,secretary shall operate the center established under paragraph 7#a7 independently of the other programs of the ,department that address homelessness among veterans4 7b7 ,functions ,the functions described in this subsection are as follows3 7#a7 ,to carry out and promote research into the causes and contributing factors to veteran homelessness4 7#b7 ,to assess the effectiveness of programs of the ,department to meet the needs of homeless veterans4 7#c7 ,to identify and disseminate best practices with regard to housing stabilization1 income support1 employment assistance1 community partnerships1 and such other matters as the ,secretary considers appropriate with respect to addressing veteran homelessness4 7#d7 ,to integrate evidence-based and best practices1 policies1 and programs into programs of the ,department for homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness and to ensure that the staff of the ,department and community partners can implement such practices1 policies1 and programs4 7#e7 ,to serve as a resource center for1 and promote and seek to coordinate the exchange of information regarding1 all research and training activities carried out by the ,department and by other ,federal and non-,federal entities with respect to veteran homelessness4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of chapter #bj of such title1 as amended by section #c7;a77#b71 is further amended by inserting after the item relating to section #bjfg the following new item3 #bjfh4 ,national ,center on ,homelessness ,among ,veterans4 4 #h4 ,administrative improvements to grant and per diem programs of ,department of ,veterans ,affairs ,section #bjab of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a77#a71 in the matter before subparagraph 7,a71 by inserting and except as otherwise provided in this section after such purpose2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7e7 ,review and conditional renewal 7#a7 ,each year1 the ,secretary shall review each grant recipient and eligible entity that received a per diem payment under this section for a service furnished to a veteran during the one-year period preceding the review to evaluate the performance of the grant recipient or eligible entity during that period with respect to-- 7,a7 the success of the grant recipient or eligible entity in assisting veterans obtain1 transition into1 and retain permanent housing2 and 7,b7 increasing the income of veterans1 whether by helping veterans obtain employment or by helping veterans obtain income-related benefits to which such veterans may be eligible or entitled4 7#b7 ,for any grant recipient or eligible entity whose performance was evaluated for a year under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary may only provide per diem under this section to that grant recipient or eligible entity in the following year if the ,secretary determines that such performance merits continued receipt of per diem under this section4 7#c7 ,the ,secretary shall establish uniform performance targets throughout the ,united ,states for all grant recipients and eligible entities that receive per diem payments under this section for purposes of evaluating the performance of each such grant recipient and eligible entity under this subsection4 4