A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision of services for homeless veterans, and for other purposes.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision of services for homeless veterans, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Homeless Veterans Prevention Act of 2019 2. 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). . 3. Partnerships with public and private entities to provide legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness (a) In general Chapter 20 section 2022 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 shall 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 (1) 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. (2) In this subsection, the terms Native American tribal organization (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 and foreclosure proceedings. (2) Legal services related to family law, including assistance in court proceedings for family reunification, 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. (5) Such other legal services as the Secretary considers appropriate and necessary. (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 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. . (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. . 4. Expansion of Department of Veterans Affairs authority to provide dental care to homeless veterans Subsection (b) of section 2062 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) (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. (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. . 5. Repeal of sunset on authority to carry out program of referral and counseling services for veterans at risk for homelessness who are transitioning from certain institutions Section 2023 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking subsection (d); and (2) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d). 6. Extension of authority for financial assistance for supportive services for very low-Income veteran families in permanent housing (a) In general Paragraph (1) of section 2044(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (H) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2020. . (b) Training entities for provision of supportive services Paragraph (3) of such section is amended by inserting and 2020 through 2012 7. Requirement for Comptroller General to study Department of Veterans Affairs homeless veterans programs (a) In general Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall complete a study of programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs that provide assistance to homeless veterans. (b) Elements The study required by subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) An assessment of whether programs described in subsection (a) are meeting the needs of veterans who are eligible for assistance provided by such programs. (2) A review of recent efforts of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the privacy, safety, and security of female veterans receiving assistance from such programs. 8. 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.

Summary: Homeless Veterans Prevention Act of 2019 This bill expands programs, and revises policies, related to veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Currently, grant recipients under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) comprehensive service program for homeless veterans receive per diem payments for services furnished to homeless veterans. The bill provides that furnishing care for a dependent in the care of a homeless veteran (who is receiving services from a grant recipient) may count as a service for which grant recipients may receive per diem payments. The bill requires the VA to enter into partnerships with public or private entities to fund a portion of the legal services such entities provide to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness, including legal services related to housing, family law, criminal defense, and income support. Under the bill, veterans who are receiving assistance under the Housing Choice Voucher Program are eligible for specified VA dental care. The bill repeals the sunset on the authority of the VA and the Department 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 (e.g., penal institutions). The bill also extends authorization through FY2020 for the VA to provide financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing. The Government Accountability Office must complete a study of VA assistance to homeless veterans. Finally, the bill repeals an annual reporting requirement related to VA assistance to homeless veterans.