,i  #aafth ,,congress  #ast ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #gaf  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of   
,,representatives  ,january #bc1        
#bjai,mrs4 ,beatty 7for herself1 ,mr4   
,stivers1 ,mr4 ,ted ,lieu of            
,california1 and ,mr4 ,turner7          
introduced the following bill2 which was
 referred to the ,committee on          
,veterans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to     
amend title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 
to authorize the ,secretary of ,veterans
 ,affairs to enter into partnerships    
with public and private entities to     
provide legal services to homeless      
veterans and veterans at risk of        
homelessness4  #a4 ,short title ,this   
,act may be cited as the ,homeless      
,veterans ,legal ,services ,act4  #b4   
,partnerships with public and private   
entities to provide legal services to   
homeless veterans and veterans at risk  
of homelessness  7a7 ,in general        
,chapter #bj of title #ch1 ,united      
,states ,code1 is amended by inserting  
after section #bjbb the following new   

section3  #bjbb;,a4 ,partnerships with  
public and private entities to provide  
legal services to homeless veterans and 
veterans at risk of homelessness  7a7   
,partnerships authorized ,subject to the
 availability of funds for such purpose1
 the ,secretary shall enter into        
partnerships with public or private     
entities to fund a portion of the       
general legal services specified in     
subsection 7c7 that are provided by such
 entities to homeless veterans and      
veterans at risk of homelessness4  7b7  
,locations ,the ,secretary shall ensure 
that1 to the extent practicable1        
partnerships under this section are made
 with entities equitably distributed    
across the geographic regions of the    
,united ,states1 including rural        
communities and tribal lands4  7c7      
,legal services ,legal services         
specified in this subsection include    
legal services provided by public or    
private entities that address the needs 
of homeless veterans and veterans at    

risk of homelessness as follows3 7#a7   
,legal services related to housing1     
including eviction defense1             
representation in landlord-tenant cases1
 and representation in foreclosure      
cases4  7#b7 ,legal services related to 
family law1 including assistance in     
court proceedings for child support1    
divorce1 estate planning1 and family    
reconciliation4  7#c7 ,legal services   
related to income support1 including    
assistance in obtaining public benefits4
  7#d7 ,legal services related to       
criminal defense1 including defense in  
matters symptomatic of homelessness1    
such as outstanding warrants1 fines1 and
 driver's license revocation1 to reduce 
recidivism and facilitate the overcoming
 of reentry obstacles in employment or  
housing4  7#e7 ,such other legal        
services as the ,secretary determines   
appropriate4  7d7 ,consultation ,in     
developing and carrying out partnerships
 under this section1 the ,secretary     
shall1 to the extent practicable-- 7#a7 

consult with veterans service           
organizations and other appropriate     
organizations2 and  7#b7 coordinate     
appropriate outreach relationships with 
such organizations4  7e7 ,reports ,the  
,secretary may require entities that    
have entered into partnerships under    
this section to submit to the ,secretary
 periodic reports on legal services     
provided to homeless veterans and       
veterans who are at risk of homelessness
 pursuant to such partnerships4  4  7b7 
,clerical amendment ,the table of       
sections at the beginning of chapter #bj
 of such title is amended by adding     
after the item relating to section #bjbb
 the following new item3  #bjbb;,a4     
,partnerships with public and private   
entities to provide legal services to   
homeless veterans and veterans at risk  
of homelessness4  4