cluding the Department of Defense, Department of 
Justice, Department of Labor, Department of 
Health and Human Services, Department of Vet-
erans Affairs, Interagency Council on Homelessness, 
and the Social Security Administration. 
(7) The cost to the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development of administering the programs 
and activities relating to veterans. 
(8) Any other information that the Secretary 
considers relevant in assessing the programs and ac-
tivities relating to veterans of the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development 
(c) ASSESSMENT OF HOUSING NEEDS OF VERY LOW- 
INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—For the first report sub-
mitted pursuant to subsection (a) and every fifth re-
port thereafter, the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development shall— 
(A) conduct an assessment of the housing 
needs of very low-income veteran families (as 
such term is defined for purposes of section 2; 
and 
(B) shall include in each such report find-
ings regarding such assessment. 
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(2) CONTENT.—Each assessment under this 
subsection shall include— 
(A) conducting a survey of, and direct 
interviews with, a representative sample of very 
low-income veteran families (as such term is de-
fined for purposes of section 2) to determine 
past and current— 
(i) socioeconomic characteristics of 
such veteran families; 
(ii) barriers to such veteran families 
obtaining safe, quality, and affordable 
housing; 
(iii) levels of homelessness among 
such veteran families; 
(iv) levels and circumstances of, and 
barriers to, receipt by such veteran families 
of rental housing and homeownership as-
sistance; 
(B) such other information that the Sec-
retary determines, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs and national non-
governmental organizations concerned with vet-
erans, homelessness, and very low-income hous-
ing, may be useful to the assessment. 
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(3) CONDUCT.—If the Secretary contracts with 
an entity other than the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development to conduct the assessment 
under this subsection, such entity shall be a non- 
governmental organization determined by the Sec-
retary to have appropriate expertise in quantitative 
and qualitative social science research. 
(4) FUNDING.—Of any amounts made available 
pursuant to section 501 of the Housing and Urban 
Development Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 1701z–1) for 
programs of research, studies, testing, or demonstra-
tion relating to the mission or programs of the De-
partment of Housing and Urban Development for 
any fiscal year in which an assessment under this 
subsection is required pursuant to paragraph (1) of 
this subsection, $1,000,000 shall be available until 
expended for costs of the assessment under this sub-
section. 
SEC. 8. SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS IN OF-
FICE OF SECRETARY OF HUD. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4 of the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development Act (42 U.S.C. 3533) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(f) SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS.— 
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‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There shall be in the 
Department a Special Assistant for Veterans Af-
fairs, who shall be in the Office of the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) APPOINTMENT.—The Special Assistant for 
Veterans Affairs shall be appointed based solely on 
merit and shall be covered under the provisions of 
title 5, United States Code, governing appointments 
in the competitive service. 
‘‘(3) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Special Assist-
ant for Veterans Affairs shall be responsible for— 
‘‘(A) ensuring veterans have access to 
housing and homeless assistance under each 
program of the Department providing either 
such assistance; 
‘‘(B) coordinating all programs and activi-
ties of the Department relating to veterans; 
‘‘(C) serving as a liaison for the Depart-
ment, and establishing and maintaining rela-
tionships with, officials of State, local, regional, 
and nongovernmental organizations concerned 
with veterans; 
‘‘(D) providing information and advice re-
garding— 
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‘‘(i) sponsoring housing projects for 
veterans assisted under programs adminis-
tered by the Department; or 
‘‘(ii) assisting veterans in obtaining 
housing or homeless assistance under pro-
grams administered by the Department; 
‘‘(E) administering the technical assistance 
grants program under section 6 of the Homes 
for Heroes Act; 
‘‘(F) preparing the annual report under 
section 7 of such Act; and 
‘‘(G) carrying out such other duties as may 
be assigned to the Special Assistant by the Sec-
retary or by law.’’. 
Æ 
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