In the Senate of the United States,
December 6, 2001.
Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representa-
tives (H.R. 2716) entitled ‘‘An Act to amend title 38, United
States Code, to revise, improve, and consolidate provisions of
law providing benefits and services for homeless veterans.’’,
do pass with the following
AMENDMENT:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS; REF-
ERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the
‘‘Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001’’.
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of this
Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; references to title 38, United States Code.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. National goal to end homelessness among veterans.
Sec. 4. Sense of the Congress regarding the needs of homeless veterans and the re-
sponsibility of Federal agencies.
Sec. 5. Consolidation and improvement of provisions of law relating to homeless
veterans.
Sec. 6. Evaluation centers for homeless veterans programs.
Sec. 7. Study of outcome effectiveness of grant program for homeless veterans with
special needs.
Sec. 8. Expansion of other programs.
Sec. 9. Coordination of employment services.
Sec. 10. Use of real property.
Sec. 11. Meetings of Interagency Council on Homeless.
Sec. 12. Rental assistance vouchers for HUD Veterans Affairs Supported Housing
program.
(c) REFERENCES
TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES
CODE.—Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever
in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms
of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provi-
sion, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section
or other provision of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:
(1) The term ‘‘homeless veteran’’ has the mean-
ing given such term in section 2002 of title 38,
United States Code, as added by section 5(a)(1).
(2) The term ‘‘grant and per diem provider’’
means an entity in receipt of a grant under section
2011 or 2012 of title 38, United States Code, as so
added.
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(3) the most effective programs for the assistance
of homeless veterans should be identified and ex-
panded;
(4) federally funded programs for homeless vet-
erans should be held accountable for achieving clearly
defined results;
(5) Federal efforts to assist homeless veterans
should include prevention of homelessness; and
(6) Federal agencies, particularly the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Housing
and Urban Development, and the Department of
Labor, should cooperate more fully to address the
problem of homelessness among veterans.
SEC. 5. CONSOLIDATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF PROVI-
SIONS OF LAW RELATING TO HOMELESS VET-
ERANS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Part II is amended by inserting
after chapter 19 the following new chapter:
‘‘CHAPTER 20—BENEFITS FOR HOMELESS
VETERANS
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS; ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
‘‘Sec.
‘‘2001. Purpose.
‘‘2002. Definitions.
‘‘2003. Staffing requirements.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS
‘‘2011. Grants.
‘‘2012. Per diem payments.
‘‘2013. Authorization of appropriations.
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‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—TRAINING AND OUTREACH
‘‘2021. Homeless veterans reintegration programs.
‘‘2022. Coordination of outreach services for veterans at risk of homelessness.
‘‘2023. Demonstration 
program 
of 
referral 
and 
counseling 
for 
veterans
transitioning from certain institutions who are at risk for home-
lessness.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER IV—TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION FOR SERIOUSLY MENTALLY
ILL AND HOMELESS VETERANS
‘‘2031. General treatment.
‘‘2032. Therapeutic housing.
‘‘2033. Additional services at certain locations.
‘‘2034. Coordination with other agencies and organizations.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER V—HOUSING ASSISTANCE
‘‘2041. Housing assistance for homeless veterans.
‘‘2042. Supported housing for veterans participating in compensated work thera-
pies.
‘‘2043. Domiciliary care programs.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER VI—LOAN GUARANTEE FOR MULTIFAMILY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
‘‘2051. General authority.
‘‘2052. Requirements.
‘‘2053. Default.
‘‘2054. Audit.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER VII—OTHER PROVISIONS
‘‘2061. Grant program for homeless veterans with special needs.
‘‘2062. Dental care.
‘‘2063. Employment assistance.
‘‘2064. Technical assistance grants for nonprofit community-based groups.
‘‘2065. Annual report on assistance to homeless veterans.
‘‘2066. Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS;
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
‘‘§ 2001. Purpose
‘‘The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the spe-
cial needs of homeless veterans.
‘‘§ 2002. Definitions
‘‘In this chapter:
‘‘(1) The term ‘homeless veteran’ means a vet-
eran who is homeless (as that term is defined in sec-
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tion 103(a) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302(a)).
‘‘(2) The term ‘grant and per diem provider’
means an entity in receipt of a grant under section
2011 or 2012 of this title.
‘‘§ 2003. Staffing requirements
‘‘(a) VBA STAFFING
AT REGIONAL OFFICES.—The
Secretary shall ensure that there is at least one full-time
employee assigned to oversee and coordinate homeless vet-
erans programs at each of the 20 Veterans Benefits Admin-
istration regional offices that the Secretary determines have
the largest homeless veteran populations within the regions
of the Administration. The programs covered by such over-
sight and coordination include the following:
‘‘(1) Housing programs administered by the Sec-
retary under this title or any other provision of law.
‘‘(2) Compensation, pension, vocational rehabili-
tation, and education benefits programs administered
by the Secretary under this title or any other provi-
sion of law.
‘‘(3) The housing program for veterans supported
by the Department of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment.
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‘‘(4) The homeless veterans reintegration pro-
gram of the Department of Labor under section 2021
of this title.
‘‘(5) The programs under section 2033 of this
title.
‘‘(6) The assessments required by section 2034 of
this title.
‘‘(7) Such other programs relating to homeless
veterans as may be specified by the Secretary.
‘‘(b) VHA CASE MANAGERS.—The Secretary shall en-
sure that the number of case managers in the Veterans
Health Administration is sufficient to assure that every vet-
eran who is provided a housing voucher through section 8(o)
of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437f(o)) is assigned to, and is seen as needed by, a case
manager.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE
PROGRAMS
‘‘§ 2011. Grants
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS.—(1) Subject to
the availability of appropriations provided for such pur-
pose, the Secretary shall make grants to assist eligible enti-
ties in establishing programs to furnish, and expanding or
modifying existing programs for furnishing, the following
to homeless veterans:
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‘‘(A) Outreach.
‘‘(B) Rehabilitative services.
‘‘(C) Vocational counseling and training
‘‘(D) Transitional housing assistance.
‘‘(2) The authority of the Secretary to make grants
under this section expires on September 30, 2005.
‘‘(b) CRITERIA FOR GRANTS.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish criteria and requirements for grants under this sec-
tion, including criteria for entities eligible to receive grants,
and shall publish such criteria and requirements in the
Federal Register. The criteria established under this sub-
section shall include the following:
‘‘(1) Specification as to the kinds of projects for
which grants are available, which shall include—
‘‘(A) expansion, remodeling, or alteration of
existing buildings, or acquisition of facilities, for
use as service centers, transitional housing, or
other facilities to serve homeless veterans; and
‘‘(B) procurement of vans for use in out-
reach to and transportation for homeless veterans
for purposes of a program referred to in sub-
section (a).
‘‘(2) Specification as to the number of projects
for which grants are available.
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‘‘(3) Criteria for staffing for the provision of
services under a project for which grants are made.
‘‘(4) Provisions to ensure that grants under this
section—
‘‘(A) shall not result in duplication of ongo-
ing services; and
‘‘(B) to the maximum extent practicable,
shall reflect appropriate geographic dispersion
and an appropriate balance between urban and
other locations.
‘‘(5) Provisions to ensure that an entity receiv-
ing a grant shall meet fire and safety requirements
established by the Secretary, which shall include—
‘‘(A) such State and local requirements that
may apply; and
‘‘(B) fire and safety requirements applicable
under the Life Safety Code of the National Fire
Protection Association or such other comparable
fire and safety requirements as the Secretary
may specify.
‘‘(6) Specification as to the means by which an
entity receiving a grant may contribute in-kind serv-
ices to the start-up costs of a project for which a
grant is sought and the methodology for assigning a
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cost to that contribution for purposes of subsection
(c).
‘‘(c) FUNDING LIMITATIONS.—A grant under this sec-
tion may not be used to support operational costs. The
amount of a grant under this section may not exceed 65
percent of the estimated cost of the project concerned.
‘‘(d) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The Secretary may make
a grant under this section to an entity applying for such
a grant only if the applicant for the grant—
‘‘(1) is a public or nonprofit private entity with
the capacity (as determined by the Secretary) to effec-
tively administer a grant under this section;
‘‘(2) demonstrates that adequate financial sup-
port will be available to carry out the project for
which the grant is sought consistent with the plans,
specifications, and schedule submitted by the appli-
cant; and
‘‘(3) agrees to meet the applicable criteria and
requirements established under subsections (b) and (g)
and has, as determined by the Secretary, the capacity
to meet such criteria and requirements.
‘‘(e) APPLICATION REQUIREMENT.—An entity seeking
a grant for a project under this section shall submit to the
Secretary an application for the grant. The application
shall set forth the following:
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‘‘(1) The amount of the grant sought for the
project.
‘‘(2) A description of the site for the project.
‘‘(3) Plans, specifications, and the schedule for
implementation of the project in accordance with cri-
teria and requirements prescribed by the Secretary
under subsection (b).
‘‘(4) Reasonable assurance that upon completion
of the work for which the grant is sought, the project
will become operational and the facilities will be used
principally to provide to veterans the services for
which the project was designed, and that not more
than 25 percent of the services provided under the
project will be provided to individuals who are not
veterans.
‘‘(f) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary may
not make a grant for a project to an applicant under this
section unless the applicant in the application for the grant
agrees to each of the following requirements:
‘‘(1) To provide the services for which the grant
is made at locations accessible to homeless veterans.
‘‘(2) To maintain referral networks for homeless
veterans for establishing eligibility for assistance and
obtaining services, under available entitlement and
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assistance programs, and to aid such veterans in es-
tablishing eligibility for and obtaining such services.
‘‘(3) To ensure the confidentiality of records
maintained on homeless veterans receiving services
through the project.
‘‘(4) To establish such procedures for fiscal con-
trol and fund accounting as may be necessary to en-
sure proper disbursement and accounting with respect
to the grant and to such payments as may be made
under section 2012 of this title.
‘‘(5) To seek to employ homeless veterans and
formerly homeless veterans in positions created for
purposes of the grant for which those veterans are
qualified.
‘‘(g) SERVICE CENTER REQUIREMENTS.—In addition
to criteria and requirements established under subsection
(b), in the case of an application for a grant under this
section for a service center for homeless veterans, the Sec-
retary shall require each of the following:
‘‘(1) That such center provide services to home-
less veterans during such hours as the Secretary may
specify and be open to such veterans on an as-needed,
unscheduled basis.
‘‘(2) That space at such center be made avail-
able, as mutually agreeable, for use by staff of the De-
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partment of Veterans Affairs, the Department of
Labor, and other appropriate agencies and organiza-
tions in assisting homeless veterans served by such
center.
‘‘(3) That such center be equipped and staffed to
provide or to assist in providing health care, mental
health services, hygiene facilities, benefits and employ-
ment counseling, meals, transportation assistance,
and such other services as the Secretary determines
necessary.
‘‘(4) That such center be equipped and staffed to
provide, or to assist in providing, job training, coun-
seling, and placement services (including job readi-
ness and literacy and skills training), as well as any
outreach and case management services that may be
necessary to carry out this paragraph.
‘‘(h) RECOVERY OF UNUSED GRANT FUNDS.—(1) If a
grant recipient under this section does not establish a pro-
gram in accordance with this section or ceases to furnish
services under such a program for which the grant was
made, the United States shall be entitled to recover from
such recipient the total of all unused grant amounts made
under this section to such recipient in connection with such
program.
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‘‘(2) Any amount recovered by the United States under
paragraph (1) may be obligated by the Secretary without
fiscal year limitation to carry out provisions of this sub-
chapter.
‘‘(3) An amount may not be recovered under para-
graph (1) as an unused grant amount before the end of the
three-year period beginning on the date on which the grant
is made.
‘‘§ 2012. Per diem payments
‘‘(a) PER DIEM PAYMENTS FOR FURNISHING SERV-
ICES TO HOMELESS VETERANS.—(1) Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations provided for such purpose, the
Secretary, pursuant to such criteria as the Secretary shall
prescribe, shall provide to a recipient of a grant under sec-
tion 2011 of this title (or an entity eligible to receive a
grant under that section which after November 10, 1992,
establishes a program that the Secretary determines carries
out the purposes described in that section) per diem pay-
ments for services furnished to any homeless veteran—
‘‘(A) whom the Secretary has referred to the
grant recipient (or entity eligible for such a grant);
or
‘‘(B) for whom the Secretary has authorized the
provision of services.
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‘‘(2)(A) The rate for such per diem payments shall be
the daily cost of care estimated by the grant recipient or
eligible entity adjusted by the Secretary under subpara-
graph (B). 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.
‘‘(B) The Secretary shall adjust the rate estimated by
the grant recipient or eligible entity under subparagraph
(A) to exclude other sources of income described in subpara-
graph (D) that the grant recipient or eligible entity certifies
to be correct.
‘‘(C) Each grant recipient or eligible entity shall pro-
vide to the Secretary such information with respect to other
sources of income as the Secretary may require to make the
adjustment under subparagraph (B).
‘‘(D) The other sources of income referred to in sub-
paragraphs (B) and (C) are payments to the grant recipi-
ent or eligible entity for furnishing services to homeless vet-
erans under programs other than under this subchapter, in-
cluding payments and grants from other departments and
agencies of the United States, from departments or agencies
of State or local government, and from private entities or
organizations.
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‘‘(3) In a case in which the Secretary has authorized
the provision of services, per diem payments under para-
graph (1) may be paid retroactively for services provided
not more than three days before the authorization was pro-
vided.
‘‘(b) INSPECTIONS.—The Secretary may inspect any
facility of a grant recipient or entity eligible for payments
under subsection (a) at such times as the Secretary con-
siders necessary. No per diem payment may be provided
to a grant recipient or eligible entity under this section un-
less the facilities of the grant recipient or eligible entity
meet such standards as the Secretary shall prescribe.
‘‘(c) LIFE SAFETY CODE.—(1) Except as provided in
paragraph (2), a per diem payment may not be provided
under this section to a grant recipient or eligible entity un-
less the facilities of the grant recipient or eligible entity,
as the case may be, meet applicable fire and safety require-
ments under the Life Safety Code of the National Fire Pro-
tection Association or such other comparable fire and safety
requirements as the Secretary may specify.
‘‘(2) During the five-year period beginning on the date
of the enactment of this section, paragraph (1) shall not
apply to an entity that received a grant under section 3
of the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs
Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–590; 38 U.S.C. 7721 note)
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before that date if the entity meets fire and safety require-
ments established by the Secretary.
‘‘(3) From amounts available for purposes of this sec-
tion, not less than $5,000,000 shall be used only for grants
to assist entities covered by paragraph (2) in meeting the
Life Safety Code of the National Fire Protection Association
or such other comparable fire and safety requirements as
the Secretary may specify.
‘‘§ 2013. Authorization of appropriations
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this subchapter amounts as follows:
‘‘(1) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2002.
‘‘(2) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.
‘‘(3) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.
‘‘(4) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2005.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—TRAINING AND OUTREACH
‘‘§ 2021. Homeless veterans reintegration programs
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of ap-
propriations provided for such purpose, the Secretary of
Labor shall conduct, directly or through grant or contract,
such programs as the Secretary determines appropriate to
provide job training, counseling, and placement services
(including job readiness and literacy and skills training)
to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the
labor force.