I

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1008

To require that a portion of the amounts made available for housing programs

for the homeless be used for activities designed to serve primarily homeless veterans, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 4, 1999

Mr. METCALF (for himself, Mr. STUMP, Mr. EVANS, Mr. STEARNS, Mr.

GUTIERREZ, Mr. QUINN, Mr. FILNER, and Ms. BROWN of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Banking

and Financial Services

A BILL

To require that a portion of the amounts made available

for housing programs for the homeless be used for activities designed to serve primarily homeless veterans, and

for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Robert Stodola Home5 less Veterans Assistance Act’’.
2

•HR 1008 IH

1 SEC. 2. DEFINITION.

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle A of title IV of the Stew3 art B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.

4 11361 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the follow5 ing new section:

6 ‘‘SEC. 402. DEFINITION OF VETERAN.

7 ‘‘For purposes of this title, the term ‘veteran’ has the

8 meaning given such term in section 101 of title 38, United

9 States Code.’’.

10 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents

11 in section 101(b) of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless

12 Assistance Act is amended by inserting after the item re13 lating to section 401 the following new item:

‘‘Sec. 402. Definition of veteran.’’.

14 SEC. 3. EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANTS PROGRAM.

15 Section 413 of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless

16 Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11373) is amended by adding

17 at the end the following new subsection:

18 ‘‘(f) VETERANS’ SHARE.—

19 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each metropolitan city,

20 urban county, State, and Indian tribe for which as21 sistance under this subtitle is provided shall ensure

22 that not less than 20 percent of the total amount re23 ceived by the city, county, State, or tribe in each fis24 cal year shall be used for eligible activities designed

25 to serve primarily homeless persons who are veter-
3

•HR 1008 IH

1 ans. Such activities shall, to the extent possible, be

2 integrated and coordinated with services made avail3 able by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

4 ‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—Upon the request of a met5 ropolitan city, urban county, State, or Indian tribe,

6 the Secretary may, with respect to a fiscal year,

7 waive the requirement under paragraph (1) or re8 duce the percentage under such paragraph for the

9 city, county, State, or tribe if the city, county, State,

10 or tribe demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Sec11 retary, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs con12 curs in the determination, that but for such waiver

13 or reduction amounts of assistance under this sub14 title for the city, county, State, or tribe will remain

15 unused for an unreasonable period of time.

16 ‘‘(3) REPORTS BY GRANTEES.—Each metropoli17 tan city, urban county, State, and Indian tribe for

18 which assistance under this subtitle is provided for

19 a fiscal year shall submit a report to the Secretary

20 and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for such fiscal

21 year describing each project and activity funded with

22 such assistance that is designed to serve primarily

23 homeless persons who are veterans, the location of

24 the project or activity, and the amount of such as25 sistance provided for the project or activity.’’.
4

•HR 1008 IH

1 SEC. 4. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM.

2 (a) SELECTION CRITERIA.—Section 426(b) of the

3 Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.

4 11386(b)) is amended—

5 (1) in paragraph (6) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the

6 end;

7 (2) by redesignating paragraph (7) as para8 graph (8); and

9 (3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the follow10 ing new paragraph:

11 ‘‘(7) such factors as the Secretary, after con12 sultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,

13 considers necessary to ensure compliance with the

14 requirements under section 429(b)(4); and’’.

15 (b) VETERANS’ SHARE.—Section 429(b) of the Stew16 art B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.

17 11389(b)) is amended—

18 (1) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the

19 end;

20 (2) in paragraph (3) by striking the period at

21 the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

22 (3) by adding at the end the following new

23 paragraph:

24 ‘‘(4) not less than 20 percent shall be allocated

25 for use only for projects and supportive services de-
5

•HR 1008 IH

1 signed to serve primarily homeless persons who are

2 veterans, except that—

3 ‘‘(A) the Secretary shall make assistance

4 available with such amounts only after consulta5 tion with and upon the concurrence of the Sec6 retary of Veterans Affairs;

7 ‘‘(B) projects and services provided with

8 amounts allocated under this paragraph shall,

9 to the extent possible, be integrated and coordi10 nated with services made available by the

11 Department of Veterans Affairs; and

12 ‘‘(C) the Secretary may, with respect to a

13 fiscal year, waive the requirement to reserve

14 amounts under this paragraph or reduce the

15 percentage so reserved if the Secretary deter16 mines (based on approvable applications sub17 mitted for assistance under this subtitle), and

18 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs concurs in the

19 determination, that but for such waiver or re20 duction amounts appropriated for such fiscal

21 year to carry out this subtitle will remain un22 used for an unreasonable period of time.’’.

23 (c) REPORT.—Section 426(c)(4) of the Stewart B.

24 McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.

25 11386(c)(4)) is amended by inserting before the semicolon
6

•HR 1008 IH

1 at the end the following: ‘‘, which shall include, in the case

2 of an applicant carrying out a project designed to serve

3 primarily homeless persons who are veterans, reporting to

4 the Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for

5 such fiscal year regarding the activities funded during

6 such fiscal year with such assistance that are designed to

7 serve primarily homeless persons who are veterans, the lo8 cation of the project and of such activities, and the

9 amount of such assistance provided for the project or such

10 activities.’’.

11 SEC. 5. SAFE HAVENS FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS DEM12 ONSTRATION PROGRAM.

13 (a) SELECTION CRITERIA.—Section 434(c) of the

14 Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.

15 11394(c)) is amended—

16 (1) in paragraph (6) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the

17 end;

18 (2) by redesignating paragraph (7) as para19 graph (8); and

20 (3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the follow21 ing new paragraph:

22 ‘‘(7) such factors as the Secretary, after con23 sultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,

24 considers necessary to ensure compliance with the

25 requirements under subsection (e); and’’.
7

•HR 1008 IH

1 (b) VETERANS’ SHARE.—Section 434 of the Stewart

2 B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act is amended by add3 ing at the end the following new subsection:

4 ‘‘(e) VETERANS’ SHARE.—

5 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In making grants to appli6 cants under this subtitle, the Secretary shall ensure

7 that not less than 20 percent of the amount made

8 available for each fiscal year to carry out this sub9 title is used for eligible activities designed to serve

10 primarily homeless persons who are veterans, which

11 activities shall, to the extent possible, be integrated

12 and coordinated with services made available by the

13 Department of Veterans Affairs. A grant shall be

14 considered to comply with the requirement under the

15 preceding sentence only if the Secretary consults

16 with and obtains the concurrence of the Secretary of

17 Veterans Affairs in making the grant.

18 ‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary may, with re19 spect to a fiscal year, waive the requirement under

20 paragraph (1) or reduce the percentage under such

21 paragraph if the Secretary determines (based on ap22 provable applications submitted for assistance under

23 this subtitle), and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs

24 concurs in the determination, that but for such waiv25 er or reduction amounts made available for such fis-
8

•HR 1008 IH

1 cal year to carry out this subtitle will remain unused

2 for an unreasonable period of time.

3 ‘‘(3) REPORTS BY RECIPIENTS.—Each recipient

4 provided assistance under this subtitle for a fiscal

5 year shall submit a report to the Secretary and the

6 Secretary of Veterans Affairs for such fiscal year de7 scribing each facility and activity funded with such

8 assistance that is designed to serve primarily home9 less persons who are veterans, the location of the fa10 cility or activity, and the amount of such assistance

11 provided for the facility or activity.’’.

12 SEC. 6. SECTION 8 PROGRAM FOR SINGLE ROOM OCCU13 PANCY DWELLINGS.

14 (a) SELECTION CRITERIA.—Section 441(c) of the

15 Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.

16 11401(c)) is amended by striking the period at the end

17 of the first sentence and inserting the following: ‘‘, while

18 ensuring compliance with the requirements under sub19 section (k). The Secretary, after consultation with the Sec20 retary of Veterans Affairs, shall establish any criteria for

21 such competition necessary to ensure compliance with the

22 requirements under subsection (k).’’.

23 (b) VETERANS’ SHARE.—Section 441 of the Stewart

24 B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act is amended by add25 ing at the end the following new subsection:
9

•HR 1008 IH

1 ‘‘(k) VETERANS’ SHARE.—

2 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In allocating amounts to

3 applicants under this section, the Secretary shall en4 sure that not less than 20 percent of the amounts

5 made available for each fiscal year to carry out this

6 section are used for assistance designed to serve pri7 marily homeless persons who are veterans, which as8 sistance shall, to the extent possible, be integrated

9 and coordinated with services made available by the

10 Department of Veterans Affairs. Assistance shall be

11 considered to comply with the requirement under

12 preceding sentence only if the Secretary consults

13 with and obtains the concurrence of the Secretary of

14 Veterans Affairs in allocating the assistance.

15 ‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary may, with re16 spect to a fiscal year, waive the requirement under

17 paragraph (1) or reduce the percentage under such

18 paragraph if the Secretary determines (based on ap19 provable applications submitted for assistance under

20 this section), and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs

21 concurs in the determination, that but for such waiv22 er or reduction amounts made available for such fis23 cal year to carry out this section will remain unused

24 for an unreasonable period of time.
10

•HR 1008 IH

1 ‘‘(3) REPORTS BY RECIPIENTS.—Each appli2 cant that receives assistance under this section for

3 a fiscal year shall submit a report to the Secretary

4 and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for such fiscal

5 year describing each dwelling unit occupied by a

6 homeless person who is a veteran that is assisted

7 with such assistance, the location of the dwelling

8 unit, and the amount of such assistance provided for

9 the dwelling unit.’’.

10 SEC. 7. SHELTER PLUS CARE PROGRAM.

11 (a) SELECTION CRITERIA.—Section 455(a) of the

12 Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.

13 11403d(a)) is amended—

14 (1) in paragraph (8) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the

15 end;

16 (2) by redesignating paragraph (9) as para17 graph (10); and

18 (3) by inserting after paragraph (8) the follow19 ing new paragraph:

20 ‘‘(9) such factors as the Secretary, after con21 sultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,

22 considers necessary to ensure compliance with the

23 requirements under subsection (d); and’’.
11

•HR 1008 IH

1 (b) VETERANS’ SHARE.—Section 455 of the Stewart

2 B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act is amended by add3 ing at the end the following new subsection:

4 ‘‘(d) VETERANS’ SHARE.—

5 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In providing assistance to

6 applicants under this subtitle, the Secretary shall en7 sure that not less than 20 percent of the amount

8 made available for each fiscal year to carry out this

9 subtitle is used for rental assistance designed to

10 serve primarily homeless persons who are veterans,

11 which assistance shall, to the extent possible, be in12 tegrated and coordinated with services made avail13 able by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Assist14 ance shall be considered to comply with the require15 ment under preceding sentence only if the Secretary

16 consults with and obtains the concurrence of the

17 Secretary of Veterans Affairs in providing the assist18 ance.

19 ‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary may, with re20 spect to a fiscal year, waive the requirement under

21 paragraph (1) or reduce the percentage under such

22 paragraph if the Secretary determines (based on ap23 provable applications submitted for assistance under

24 this subtitle), and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs

25 concurs in the determination, that but for such waiv-
12

•HR 1008 IH

1 er or reduction amounts made available for such fis2 cal year to carry out this subtitle will remain unused

3 for an unreasonable period of time.

4 ‘‘(3) REPORTS BY RECIPIENTS.—Each recipient

5 provided assistance under this subtitle for a fiscal

6 year shall submit a report to the Secretary and the

7 Secretary of Veterans Affairs for such fiscal year de8 scribing assistance funded with such amounts that is

9 designed to serve primarily homeless persons who

10 are veterans, the location of the housing or activity

11 so assisted, and the amount of such assistance pro12 vided for the housing or activity.’’.

13 SEC. 8. RURAL HOMELESSNESS GRANT PROGRAM.

14 Section 491(c) of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless

15 Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11408(c)) is amended by add16 ing at the end the following new paragraph:

17 ‘‘(4) VETERANS’ SHARE.—

18 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In awarding grants

19 under subsection (a) for a fiscal year, the Sec20 retary shall ensure that not less than 20 per21 cent of the amount made available for the fiscal

22 year for such grants is used for eligible activi23 ties under subsection (b) designed to serve pri24 marily homeless persons who are veterans,

25 which activities shall, to the extent possible, be
13

•HR 1008 IH

1 integrated and coordinated with services made

2 available by the Department of Veterans Af3 fairs. A grant shall be considered to comply

4 with the requirement under preceding sentence

5 only if the Secretary consults with and obtains

6 the concurrence of the Secretary of Veterans

7 Affairs in providing the grant.

8 ‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary may,

9 with respect to a fiscal year, waive the require10 ment under subparagraph (A) or reduce the

11 percentage under such subparagraph if the Sec12 retary determines (based on approvable applica13 tions submitted for grants under this section),

14 and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs concurs

15 in the determination, that but for such waiver

16 or reduction amounts made available for such

17 fiscal year to carry out this section will remain

18 unused for an unreasonable period of time.

19 ‘‘(C) REPORTS BY RECIPIENTS.—Each eli20 gible organization receiving a grant under this

21 section for a fiscal year shall submit a report to

22 the Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Af23 fairs for such fiscal year describing assistance

24 funded with such amounts that is designed to

25 serve primarily homeless persons who are veter-
14

•HR 1008 IH

1 ans, the location of the housing or activities so

2 assisted, and the amount of such amounts pro3 vided for the housing or activities.’’.

4 SEC. 9. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND ANNUAL REPORTS.

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle A of title IV of the Stew6 art B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.

7 11361), as amended by section 2 of this Act, is further

8 amended by adding at the end the following new section:

9 ‘‘SEC. 403. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND REPORTS RE10 GARDING ACTIVITIES BENEFITING HOME11 LESS VETERANS.

12 ‘‘(a) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary, after

13 consultation with and upon the concurrence of the Sec14 retary of Veterans Affairs, shall carry out a program to

15 provide technical advice, training, and outreach activities

16 necessary to facilitate and encourage the funding, with

17 grant amounts under this title, of projects and activities

18 designed to serve primarily homeless persons who are vet19 erans. The program shall include—

20 ‘‘(1) providing notice of availability of amounts

21 set-aside under this title for eligible activities de22 signed to serve primarily homeless persons who are

23 veterans to agencies and organizations who are

24 qualified or could qualify as grantees for such

25 amounts and project sponsors for such activities;
15

•HR 1008 IH

1 ‘‘(2) increasing participation, by agencies and

2 organizations interested in carrying out eligible ac3 tivities designed to serve primarily homeless persons

4 who are veterans, in developing plans required under

5 section 401;

6 ‘‘(3) providing assistance to increase the capa7 bility of such agencies and organizations in develop8 ing plans and applications for grants under this title

9 and activities funded with such grant amounts (in10 cluding providing assistance in integrating and co11 ordinating such activities with services made avail12 able by the Department of Veterans Affairs).

13 ‘‘(b) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than 6 months

14 after the conclusion of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall

15 submit a report to the Congress and the Secretary of Vet16 erans Affairs regarding activities and assistance provided

17 with grant amounts under this title that are designed to

18 serve primarily homeless persons who are veterans. The

19 report shall analyze the extent of compliance with the re20 quirements under this title to reserve amounts for such

21 activities and assistance and shall summarize the reports

22 regarding such assistance and activities submitted under

23 sections 413(f)(3), 426(c)(4), 434(e)(3), 441(k)(3),

24 455(d)(3), and 491(c)(4)(C) by grant recipients. After

25 submitting each report under this subsection, the Sec-
16

•HR 1008 IH

1 retary shall consult with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs

2 regarding any recommendations of such Secretary in re3 sponse to the report.’’.

4 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents

5 in section 101(b) of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless

6 Assistance Act is amended by inserting after the item re7 lating to section 402 (as added by section 2(b) of this Act)

8 the following new item:

‘‘Sec. 403. Technical assistance and reports regarding activities benefiting

homeless veterans.’’.

Æ