Helping Homeless Veterans Act of 2013

Summary: Helping Homeless Veterans Act of 2013 - (Sec. 2) Includes as a homeless veteran, for purposes of eligibility for benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a veteran or veteran's family fleeing domestic or dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions in the current housing situation, including where the health and safety of children are jeopardized, there is no other residence, and there is a lack of resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing. (Sec. 3) Requires public or private nonprofit entities that receive grants under the VA comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans to agree to meet the physical privacy, safety, and security needs of such veterans. (Sec. 4) Increases the per diem payment for transitional housing assistance for homeless veterans who are placed in housing that will become permanent upon the termination of such assistance to a maximum of 150% of the per diem rate authorized for veterans receiving domiciliary care in state homes. (Sec. 5) Allows services for which a homeless veteran receives a grant under the comprehensive service programs to include furnishing care for a dependent. (Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) assess and measure the capacity of programs for which entities receive grants or per diem payments to assist homeless veterans, and (2) use such information to ensure that such programs effectively serve the needs of such veterans. Requires the Secretary to report to the congressional veterans committees on such assessment. (Sec. 7) Revises VA authority to provide dental care to veterans receiving certain other assistance through the VA to include those veterans: (1) receiving supportive housing assistance under the United States Housing Act of 1937 for at least 60 consecutive days, or (2) residing in non-VA transitional housing for at least 60 days from which the veteran cannot reasonably access comparable dental services at no cost. (Sec. 8) Authorizes the Secretary (until December 31, 2016) to enter into partnerships with public or private entities to fund a portion of general legal services provided to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness. Requires the partnerships to be equitably distributed across the United States and to include rural communities, tribal lands and organizations, and Native Americans. Allows the Secretary to require such partnerships to submit periodic reports to the Secretary on the legal services provided. (Sec. 9) Directs the Secretary to periodically request from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Prisons, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and other appropriate federal law enforcement agencies data useful for the evaluation and improvement of the services provided to veterans at risk of homelessness. (Sec. 10) Extends through FY2017 the authority of the Secretary and the Secretary of Labor to carry out a program of referral and counseling for veterans who are at risk of homelessness and are transitioning from certain institutions, including penal institutions. Repeals the requirement that such program be carried out in least 12 locations. (Sec. 11) Repeals a required annual report from the Secretary to the veterans committees on VA activities under homeless veterans assistance programs. (Sec. 12) Extends various VA authorities and programs affecting such veterans, including: (1) treatment and rehabilitation for seriously mentally ill and homeless veterans, housing assistance for homeless veterans, and the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans through 2014; and (2) supportive services for very low-income veteran families residing in permanent housing through FY2014.  (Sec. 13) Extends from November 30, 2016, through August 31, 2017, the requirement of a reduced pension ($90 per month) for veterans (with neither spouse nor child) or surviving spouses (with no child) covered by Medicaid plans under title XIX of the Social Security Act for services furnished by nursing facilities.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Helping Homeless Veterans Act of 
2013''.

SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF DEFINITION OF HOMELESS VETERAN FOR PURPOSES OF 
              BENEFITS UNDER THE LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    Section 2002(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``in section 103(a) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 11302(a))'' and inserting ``in subsection (a) or (b) of 
section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
11302)''.

SEC. 3. IMPROVEMENTS TO GRANT PROGRAM FOR COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE 
              PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.

    (a) Modification of Authority To Provide Capital Improvement Grants 
for Programs That Assist Homeless Veterans.--Subsection (a) of section 
2011 of title 38, United States Code, is amended, in the matter before 
paragraph (1)--
            (1) by striking ``or modifying'' and inserting ``, 
        modifying, or maintaining''; and
            (2) by inserting ``privately, safely, and securely,'' 
        before ``the following''.
    (b) Requirement That Recipients of Grants Meet Physical Privacy, 
Safety, and Security Needs of Homeless Veterans.--Subsection (f) of 
such section is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
            ``(6) To meet the physical privacy, safety, and security 
        needs of homeless veterans receiving services through the 
        project.''.

SEC. 4. INCREASED PER DIEM PAYMENTS FOR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE 
              THAT BECOMES PERMANENT HOUSING FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.

    Section 2012(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (D) as 
        subparagraphs (C) through (E), respectively;
            (2) in subparagraph (C), as redesignated, by striking ``in 
        subparagraph (D)'' and inserting ``in subparagraph (E)'';
            (3) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated, by striking 
        ``under subparagraph (B)'' and inserting ``under subparagraph 
        (C)'';
            (4) in subparagraph (E), as redesignated, by striking ``in 
        subparagraphs (B) and (C)'' and inserting ``in subparagraphs 
        (C) and (D)''; and
            (5) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) by striking ``The rate'' and inserting ``Except 
                as otherwise provided in subparagraph (B), the rate''; 
                and
                    (B) by striking ``under subparagraph (B)'' and all 
                that follows through the end and inserting the 
                following: ``under subparagraph (C).
    ``(B)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), in no case may the rate 
determined under this paragraph exceed the rate authorized for State 
homes for domiciliary care under subsection (a)(1)(A) of section 1741 
of this title, as the Secretary may increase from time to time under 
subsection (c) of that section.
    ``(ii) In the case of services furnished to a homeless veteran who 
is placed in housing that will become permanent housing for the veteran 
upon termination of the furnishing of such services to such veteran, 
the maximum rate of per diem authorized under this section is 150 
percent of the rate described in clause (i).''.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF PER DIEM PAYMENTS FOR FURNISHING CARE TO 
              DEPENDENTS OF CERTAIN HOMELESS VETERANS.

    Subsection (a) of section 2012 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(4) Services for which a recipient of a grant under section 2011 
of this title (or an entity described in paragraph (1)) may receive per 
diem payments under this subsection may include furnishing care for a 
dependent of a homeless veteran who is under the care of such homeless 
veteran while such homeless veteran receives services from the grant 
recipient (or entity).''.

SEC. 6. REQUIREMENT FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO ASSESS 
              COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall assess 
and measure the capacity of programs for which entities receive grants 
under section 2011 of title 38, United States Code, or per diem 
payments under section 2012 or 2061 of such title.
    (b) Assessment at National and Local Levels.--In assessing and 
measuring under subsection (a), the Secretary shall develop and use 
tools to examine the capacity of programs described in such subsection 
at both the national and local level in order to assess the following:
            (1) Whether sufficient capacity exists to meet the needs of 
        homeless veterans in each geographic area.
            (2) Whether existing capacity meets the needs of the 
        subpopulations of homeless veterans located in each geographic 
        area.
            (3) The amount of capacity that recipients of grants under 
        sections 2011 and 2061 and per diem payments under section 2012 
        of such title have to provide services for which the recipients 
        are eligible to receive per diem under section 
        2012(a)(2)(B)(ii) of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
        section 4(5)(B).
    (c) Use of Information.--The Secretary shall use the information 
collected under this section as follows:
            (1) To set specific goals to ensure that programs described 
        in subsection (a) are effectively serving the needs of homeless 
        veterans.
            (2) To assess whether programs described in subsection (a) 
        are meeting goals set under paragraph (1).
            (3) To inform funding allocations for programs described in 
        subsection (a).
            (4) To improve the referral of homeless veterans to 
        programs described in subsection (a).
    (d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which the 
assessment required by subsection (b) is completed, 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 such assessment and such recommendations for legislative and 
administrative action as the Secretary may have to improve the programs 
and per diem payments described in subsection (a).

SEC. 7. EXPANSION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AUTHORITY TO 
              PROVIDE DENTAL CARE TO HOMELESS VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--Section 2062(b) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Eligible Veterans.--(1) Subsection (a) applies to a veteran 
who--
            ``(A) is enrolled for care under section 1705(a) of this 
        title; and
            ``(B) for a period of 60 consecutive days, is receiving--
                    ``(i) assistance under section 8(o) of the United 
                States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)); or
                    ``(ii) care (directly or by contract) in any of the 
                following settings:
                            ``(I) A domiciliary under section 1710 of 
                        this title.
                            ``(II) A therapeutic residence under 
                        section 2032 of this title.
                            ``(III) Community residential care 
                        coordinated by the Secretary under section 1730 
                        of this title.
                            ``(IV) A setting for which the Secretary 
                        provides funds for a grant and per diem 
                        provider.
                            ``(V) A setting--
                                    ``(aa) in which the veteran is 
                                receiving transitional housing 
                                assistance;
                                    ``(bb) for which funding is not 
                                provided for transitional housing 
                                assistance under the laws administered 
                                by the Secretary;
                                    ``(cc) for which the Secretary 
                                receives verification from the provider 
                                of care that the veteran is receiving 
                                care for a period of 60 consecutive 
                                days; and
                                    ``(dd) from which the Secretary 
                                determines that the veteran cannot 
                                reasonably access comparable dental 
                                services at no cost and in a reasonable 
                                period of time.
    ``(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), in determining whether a 
veteran has received assistance or care for a period of 60 consecutive 
days, the Secretary may disregard breaks in the continuity of 
assistance or care for which the veteran is not responsible.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 8. PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES TO PROVIDE LEGAL 
              SERVICES TO HOMELESS VETERANS AND VETERANS AT RISK OF 
              HOMELESSNESS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 2022 the following new section:
``Sec. 2022A. Partnerships with public and private entities to provide 
              legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk 
              of homelessness
    ``(a) Partnerships Authorized.--Subject to the availability of 
funds for that purpose, the Secretary may enter into partnerships with 
public or private entities to fund a portion of the general legal 
services specified in subsection (c) that are provided by such entities 
to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness.
    ``(b) Locations.--The Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent 
practicable, partnerships under this section are made with entities 
equitably distributed across the geographic regions of the United 
States, including rural communities, tribal lands of the United States, 
Native Americans, and tribal organizations (as defined in section 3765 
of title 38, United States Code).
    ``(c) 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 follows:
            ``(1) Legal services related to housing, including eviction 
        defense and representation in landlord-tenant cases.
            ``(2) Legal services related to family law, including 
        assistance in court proceedings for child support, divorce, and 
        estate planning.
            ``(3) Legal services related to income support, including 
        assistance in obtaining public benefits.
            ``(4) Legal services related to criminal defense, including 
        defense in matters symptomatic of homelessness, such as 
        outstanding warrants, fines, and driver's license revocation, 
        to reduce recidivism and facilitate the overcoming of reentry 
        obstacles in employment or housing.
    ``(d) Consultation.--In developing and carrying out partnerships 
under this section, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, 
consult with public and private entities--
            ``(1) for assistance in identifying and contacting 
        organizations capable of providing the legal services described 
        in subsection (c); and
            ``(2) to coordinate appropriate outreach relationships with 
        such organizations.
    ``(e) 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 at risk of homelessness pursuant to such partnerships.
    ``(f) Sunset.--The authority of the Secretary to enter into 
partnerships under this section as described in subsection (a) shall 
expire on December 31, 2016.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 20 of such title is amended by adding after the item relating 
to section 2022 the following new item:

``2022A. Partnerships with public and private entities to provide legal 
                            services to homeless veterans and veterans 
                            at risk of homelessness.''.

SEC. 9. REQUESTS FOR DATA TO EVALUATE AND IMPROVE SERVICES PROVIDED TO 
              VETERANS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.

    Section 2022 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g);
            (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new 
        subsection (f):
    ``(f) Requests for Data To Evaluate and Improve Services Provided 
to Veterans at Risk of Homelessness.--(1) The Secretary shall from time 
to time request from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of 
Prisons, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and other appropriate 
Federal law enforcement agencies data in the possession of such 
agencies useful for the evaluation and improvement of the services 
provided to veterans at risk of homelessness under this section and 
section 2023 of this title.
    ``(2) Such agencies shall make reasonable efforts to comply with 
any such request by the Secretary.''.

SEC. 10. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR PROGRAM OF REFERRAL AND COUNSELING 
              SERVICES FOR VETERANS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS WHO ARE 
              TRANSITIONING FROM CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS.

    Section 2023 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (b);
            (2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``To the extent 
        practicable, the program'' and inserting ``The program'';
            (3) in subsection (d), by striking ``September 30, 2014'' 
        and inserting ``September 30, 2017'';
            (4) in subsection (e)(2), by striking ``provided under the 
        demonstration program''; and
            (5) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), and (e) as 
        subsections (b), (c), and (d), respectively.

SEC. 11. REPEAL OF REQUIREMENT FOR ANNUAL REPORTS ON ASSISTANCE TO 
              HOMELESS VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--Section 2065 of title 38, United States Code, is 
hereby repealed.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 20 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to 
section 2065.

SEC. 12. EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITIES.

    (a) Treatment and Rehabilitation for Seriously Mentally Ill and 
Homeless Veterans.--Section 2031(b) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ``December 31, 2013'' and inserting ``December 31, 
2014''.
    (b) Centers for the Provision of Comprehensive Services to Homeless 
Veterans.--Section 2033(d) of such title is amended by striking 
``December 31, 2013'' and inserting ``December 31, 2014''.
    (c) Housing Assistance for Homeless Veterans.--Section 2041(c) of 
such title is amended by striking ``December 31, 2013'' and inserting 
``December 31, 2014''.
    (d) Training Entities for Provision of Supportive Services for Very 
Low-income Veteran Families in Permanent Housing.--Section 2044(e)(3) 
of such title is amended by striking ``2012'' and inserting ``2014''.
    (e) Technical Assistance Grants for Nonprofit Community-Based 
Groups.--Section 2064(b) of such title is amended by striking ``2012'' 
and inserting ``2014''.
    (f) Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.--Section 2066(d) of 
such title is amended by striking ``December 31, 2013'' and inserting 
``December 31, 2014''.

SEC. 13. EXTENSION OF REDUCED PENSION FOR CERTAIN VETERANS COVERED BY 
              MEDICAID PLANS FOR SERVICES FURNISHED BY NURSING 
              FACILITIES.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (d)(7) of section 5503 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``November 30, 2016'' and 
inserting ``August 31, 2017''.
    (b) Clerical Amendments.--
            (1) Section heading.--The section heading of such section 
        is amended to read as follows: ``Reduced pension for certain 
        hospitalized veterans and certain veterans receiving 
        domiciliary, nursing home, or nursing facility care''.
            (2) Table of sections.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 55 of such title is amended by striking 
        the item relating to section 5503 and inserting the following 
        new item:

``5503. Reduced pension for certain hospitalized veterans and certain 
                            veterans receiving domiciliary, nursing 
                            home, or nursing facility care.''.

            Passed the Senate November 6, 2013.

            Attest:

                                                NANCY ERICKSON,

                                                             Secretary.