I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2716
To amend title 38, United States Code, to revise, improve, and consolidate
provisions of law providing benefits and services for homeless veterans.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AUGUST 2, 2001
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. BUYER, and Mr. SIMMONS) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Vet-
erans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to revise, improve,
and consolidate provisions of law providing benefits and
services for homeless veterans.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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 Assistance Act of 2001’’.
(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. Sense of the Congress regarding the needs of homeless veterans and the
responsibility of Federal agencies.
Sec. 3. Improvement and consolidation of provisions of law relating to homeless
veterans.
Sec. 4. Rental assistance vouchers for HUD Veterans Affairs supported hous-
ing program.
Sec. 5. Increase in representative payee services for homeless veterans.
Sec. 6. Joint methodology to monitor results of services furnished to homeless
veterans.
Sec. 7. Enhanced-use leases for facilities that serve homeless veterans.
Sec. 8. Authorization of additional domiciliary care programs.
Sec. 9. Demonstration program relating to referral and counseling for veterans
transitioning from certain institutions who are at risk for
homelessness.
Sec. 10. Demonstration program for grants for independent group homes for
recovering veterans.
(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. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING THE NEEDS
OF HOMELESS VETERANS AND THE RESPON-
SIBILITY OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.
It is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) Federal programs for the assistance of
homeless veterans that are effective should be identi-
fied and expanded;
(2) federally funded programs for homeless vet-
erans should be held accountable for achieving clear-
ly defined results;
(3) Federal efforts to assist homeless veterans
should include prevention of homelessness; and
(4) Federal agencies, particularly the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs and the Department of
Housing and Urban Development, should cooperate
more fully to address the problem of homelessness
among veterans.
SEC. 3. IMPROVEMENT AND CONSOLIDATION OF PROVI-
SIONS OF LAW RELATING TO HOMELESS VET-
ERANS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Part II is amended by insert-
ing after chapter 19 the following new chapter:
‘‘CHAPTER 20—BENEFITS FOR HOMELESS
VETERANS
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS
‘‘Sec.
‘‘2001. Purpose.
‘‘2002. Definitions.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS
‘‘2011. Grants.
‘‘2012. Per diem payments.
‘‘2013. Authorization of appropriations.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—TRAINING
‘‘2021. Homeless veterans’ reintegration programs.
‘‘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.
‘‘2035. Representative payee services.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER V—HOUSING ASSISTANCE
‘‘2041. Housing assistance for homeless veterans.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER VI—LOAN GUARANTEES FOR MULTIFAMILY TRANSITIONAL
HOUSING
‘‘2051. General authority.
‘‘2052. Requirements.
‘‘2053. Default.
‘‘2054. Audit.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER VII—MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
‘‘2061. Annual report on assistance to homeless veterans.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS
‘‘§ 2001. Purpose
‘‘The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the
special needs of homeless veterans.
‘‘§ 2002. Definitions
‘‘In this chapter:
‘‘(1) The term ‘homeless veteran’ means a
homeless individual who is a veteran.
‘‘(2) The term ‘homeless individual’ has the
meaning given such term by section 103 of the
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42
U.S.C. 11302).
‘‘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 en-
tities in establishing programs to furnish, and expanding
or modifying existing programs for furnishing, the fol-
lowing to homeless veterans:
‘‘(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, 2003.
‘‘(b) CRITERIA FOR AWARD OF GRANTS.—The Sec-
retary shall establish criteria and requirements for the
award of a grant under this section, including criteria for
entities eligible to receive such grants, and shall publish
such criteria and requirements in the Federal Register.
The criteria established under this section shall include
the following:
‘‘(1) Specification as to the kinds of projects for
which such grant support is 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 vet-
erans to carry out the purposes set forth in
subsection (a).
‘‘(2) Specification as to the number of projects
for which grant support is available.
‘‘(3) Appropriate criteria for the staffing for the
provision of the services for which a grant under this
section is furnished.
‘‘(4) Provisions to ensure that the award of
grants under this section—
‘‘(A) shall not result in duplication of on-
going services; and
‘‘(B) to the maximum extent practicable,
shall reflect appropriate geographic dispersion
and an appropriate balance between urban and
nonurban 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
such State and community requirements that may
apply, but fire and safety requirements applicable to
buildings of the Federal Government shall not apply
to real property to be used by a grantee in carrying
out the grant.
‘‘(6) Specifications as to the means by which an
entity receiving a grant may contribute in-kind serv-
ices to the start-up costs of any project for which
support is sought and the methodology for assigning
a cost to that contribution for purposes of subsection
(c).
‘‘(c) FUNDING LIMITATIONS.—A grant under this
section 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 expansion, remodeling,
alteration, acquisition, or procurement provided for under
this section.
‘‘(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 ef-
fectively administer a grant under this section;
‘‘(2) has demonstrated that adequate financial
support will be available to carry out the project for
which the grant has been sought consistent with the
plans, specifications, and schedule submitted by the
applicant; and
‘‘(3) has agreed to meet the applicable criteria
and requirements established under subsections (b)
and (g) (and the Secretary has determined that the
applicant has demonstrated the capacity to meet
those criteria and requirements).
‘‘(e) APPLICATION REQUIREMENT.—An entity de-
scribed in subsection (d) desiring to receive assistance
under this section shall submit to the Secretary an appli-
cation. The application shall set forth the following:
‘‘(1) The amount of the grant requested with
respect to a project.
‘‘(2) A description of the site for such project.
‘‘(3) Plans, specifications, and the schedule for
implementation of such project in accordance with
requirements prescribed by the Secretary under sub-
section (b).
‘‘(4) Reasonable assurance that upon comple-
tion of the work for which assistance is sought, the
program 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
will serve clients who are not receiving such services
as veterans.
‘‘(f) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary may
not make a grant 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 furnished at locations accessible to homeless vet-
erans.
‘‘(2) To maintain referral networks for, and aid
homeless veterans in, establishing eligibility for as-
sistance, and obtaining services, under available enti-
tlement and assistance programs.
‘‘(3) To ensure the confidentiality of records
maintained on homeless veterans receiving services
under the grant.
‘‘(4) To establish such procedures for fiscal
control and fund accounting as may be necessary to
ensure proper disbursement and accounting with re-
spect 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 established under subsection (b), the Secretary
shall, in the case of an application for a grant for a service
center for homeless veterans, 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 will be made
available, as mutually agreeable, for use by staff of
the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department
of Labor, and other appropriate agencies and orga-
nizations 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 employment counseling, meals, transportation
assistance, and such other services as the Secretary
determines necessary.
‘‘(4) That such center may be equipped and
staffed to provide, or to assist in providing, job
training and job placement services (including job
readiness, job counseling, and literacy and skills
training), as well as any outreach and case manage-
ment services that may be necessary to carry out
this paragraph.
‘‘§ 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 car-
ries out the purposes described in that section) per diem
payments 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.
‘‘(2) The rate for such per diem payments shall be
the rate applicable for domiciliary care under section
1741(a)(1)(A) of this title.
‘‘(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
provided.
‘‘(b) IN-KIND ASSISTANCE.—In lieu of per diem pay-
ments under this section, the Secretary may, with the ap-
proval of the grant recipient, provide in-kind assistance
(through the services of employees of the Department of
Veterans Affairs and the use of other Department re-
sources) to a grant recipient (or entity eligible for such
a grant) under section 2011 of this title.
‘‘(c) INSPECTIONS.—The Secretary may inspect any
facility of an entity eligible for payments under subsection
(a) at such times as the Secretary considers necessary. No
per diem payment may be made to an entity under this
section unless the facilities of that entity meet such stand-
ards as the Secretary shall prescribe.
‘‘(d) RECOVERY OF UNUSED GRANT FUNDS.—(1) If
a grant recipient (or entity eligible for such a grant) under
section 2011 of this title does not establish a program in
accordance with that 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 recipi-
ent or entity the total of all unused grant amounts made
under this section to such recipient or entity in connection
with such program.
‘‘(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 subchapter.
‘‘§ 2013. Authorization of appropriations
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this subchapter amounts as follows:
‘‘(1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2000.
‘‘(2) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2001.
‘‘(3) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2002.
‘‘(4) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.
‘‘(5) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.
‘‘(6) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2005.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—TRAINING
‘‘§ 2021. Homeless veterans’ reintegration programs
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of ap-
propriations provided for under subsection (d) and made
available for such purpose, the Secretary of Labor shall
conduct, directly or through grant or contract, such pro-
grams as the Secretary determines appropriate to provide
job training, counseling, and placement services to expe-
dite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor
force.
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENT TO MONITOR EXPENDITURES
OF FUNDS.—(1) The Secretary of Labor shall collect such
information as the Secretary considers appropriate to
monitor and evaluate the distribution and expenditure of
funds appropriated to carry out this section. The informa-
tion shall include data with respect to the results or out-
comes of the services provided to each homeless veteran
under this section.
bining outreach, community-based residential treat-
ment, and case-management, and contract care pro-
grams for alcohol and drug-dependence or use dis-
abilities) in providing assistance to homeless vet-
erans.
‘‘(5) The Secretary’s evaluation of the effective-
ness of programs established by recipients of grants
under section 2011 of this title and a description of
the experience of those recipients in applying for and
receiving grants from the Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development to serve primarily homeless per-
sons who are veterans.’’.
(2) The tables of chapters before part I and at the
beginning of part II are each amended by inserting after
the item relating to chapter 19 the following new item:
‘‘20. Benefits for homeless veterans ......................................................... 2001’’.
(b) HEALTH CARE.—(1) Subchapter VII of chapter
17 is transferred to chapter 20 (as added by subsection
(a)), inserted after section 2021 (as so added), and redes-
ignated as subchapter IV, and sections 1771, 1772, 1773,
and 1774 therein are redesignated as sections 2031, 2032,
2033, and 2034, respectively.
(2) Subsection (a)(3) of section 2031, as so trans-
ferred and redesignated, is amended by striking ‘‘section
1772 of this title’’ and inserting ‘‘section 2032 of this
title’’.
(c) HOUSING ASSISTANCE.—Section 3735 is trans-
ferred to chapter 20 (as added by subsection (a)), inserted
after the heading for subchapter V, and redesignated as
section 2041.
(d) MULTIFAMILY TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.—(1)
Subchapter VI of chapter 37 (other than section 3771)
is transferred to chapter 20 (as added by subsection (a))
and inserted after section 2041 (as transferred and redes-
ignated by subsection (c)), and sections 3772, 3773, 3774,
and 3775 therein are redesignated as sections 2051, 2052,
2053, and 2054, respectively.
(2) Such subchapter is amended—
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘FOR HOME-
LESS VETERANS’’;
(B) in subsection (d)(1) of section 2051, as so
transferred and redesignated, by striking ‘‘section
3773 of this title’’ and inserting ‘‘section 2052 of
this title’’; and
(C) in subsection (a) of section 2052, as so
transferred and redesignated, by striking ‘‘section
3772 of this title’’ and inserting ‘‘section 2051 of
this title’’.
(3) Section 3771 is repealed.
(e) REPEAL
OF CODIFIED PROVISIONS.—The fol-
lowing provisions of law are repealed:
(1) Sections 3, 4, and 12 of the Homeless Vet-
erans Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992
(Public Law 102–590; 38 U.S.C. 7721 note).
(2) Section 1001 of the Veterans’ Benefits Im-
provements Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–446; 38
U.S.C. 7721 note).
(3) Section 4111.
(4) Section 738 of the McKinney-Vento Home-
less Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11448).
(f) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—
(1) The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 17 is amended by striking the item relating
to subchapter VII and the items relating to sections
1771, 1772, 1773, and 1774.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 37 is amended—
(A) by striking the item relating to section
3735; and
(B) by striking the item relating to sub-
chapter VI and the items relating to sections
3771, 3772, 3773, 3774, and 3775.
(3) The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 41 is amended by striking the item relating
to section 4111.
SEC. 4. RENTAL ASSISTANCE VOUCHERS FOR HUD VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS SUPPORTED HOUSING PRO-
GRAM.
(a) INCREASE IN NUMBER OF VOUCHERS.—Section
8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437f(o)) is amended by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:
‘‘(19) RENTAL VOUCHERS FOR VETERANS AF-
FAIRS SUPPORTED HOUSING PROGRAM.—
‘‘(A) SET
ASIDE.—Subject to subpara-
graph (C), the Secretary shall set aside, from
amounts made available for rental assistance
under this subsection, the amounts specified in
subparagraph (B) for use only for providing
such assistance through a supported housing
program administered in conjunction with the
Department of Veterans Affairs. Such program
shall provide rental assistance on behalf of
homeless veterans who have chronic mental ill-
nesses or chronic substance use disorders, shall
require agreement of the veteran to continued
treatment for such mental illness or substance
use disorder as a condition of receipt of such
rental assistance, and shall ensure such treat-
ment and appropriate case management for
each veteran receiving such rental assistance.
‘‘(B) AMOUNT.—The amount specified in
this subparagraph is—
‘‘(i) for fiscal year 2003, the amount
necessary to provide 500 vouchers for rent-
al assistance under this subsection;
‘‘(ii) for fiscal year 2004, the amount
necessary to provide 1,000 vouchers for
rental assistance under this subsection;
‘‘(iii) for fiscal year 2005, the amount
necessary to provide 1,500 vouchers for
rental assistance under this subsection;
and
‘‘(iv) for fiscal year 2006, the amount
necessary to provide 2,000 vouchers for
rental assistance under this subsection.
‘‘(C) FUNDING
THROUGH
INCREMENTAL
ASSISTANCE.—In any fiscal year, to the extent
that this paragraph requires the Secretary to
set aside rental assistance amounts for use
under this paragraph in an amount that ex-
ceeds that set aside in the preceding fiscal year,
such requirement shall be effective only to such
extent or in such amounts as are or have been
provided in appropriation Acts for such fiscal
year for incremental rental assistance under
this subsection.’’.
(b) INCREASE
IN NUMBER
OF VHA CASE MAN-
AGERS.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure
that the number of case managers in the Veterans Health
Administration is sufficient to assure that every veteran
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 able to be seen as needed
by, a case manager.
SEC. 5. INCREASE IN REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE SERVICES
FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 20 (as added by section
3(a)) is amended by inserting after section 2034 (as trans-
ferred and redesignated by section 3(b)) the following new
section:
‘‘§ 2035. Representative payee services
‘‘The Secretary shall seek to enter into contracts with
community agencies to provide representative payee serv-
ices for veterans who are not competent to manage their
own personal funds. Any such contract shall require that
an entity acting as representative payee for a veteran shall
work in consort with care providers of the Veterans Health
Administration to ensure that all Government funds are
used appropriately (such as for shelter, nutrition, and nec-
essary health care services).’’.
(b) REPORT.—Not later than March 1, 2003, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to Congress a
report on the Secretary’s efforts to expand contracts de-
scribed in section 2035 of title 38, United States Code,
as added by subsection (a), and on savings from cost-of-
care avoidance resulting from such contracts.
SEC. 6. JOINT METHODOLOGY TO MONITOR RESULTS OF
SERVICES FURNISHED TO HOMELESS VET-
ERANS.
(a) RESULTS OF VETERANS FURNISHED SERVICES
UNDER FEDERAL HOMELESS PROGRAMS.—The Secretary
of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development (hereinafter in this section referred
to as the ‘‘Secretaries’’) shall jointly establish a method-
ology to monitor—
(1) veterans who have been furnished any serv-
ice under any program funded or operated by the
Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department
of Housing and Urban Development under which
services are furnished to homeless veterans; and
(2) any unmet demand by such veterans for any
such service.
(b) METHODOLOGY.—(1) The methodology under
subsection (a) shall include monitoring of standardized
measurements and outcomes of such services furnished to
veterans. Such standardized measurements and outcomes
include measurable improved performance outcomes in the
areas of mental illness, substance use disorders, general
health, housing, and employment.
(2) Such standardized measurements and outcomes
shall provide information with respect the following:
(A) Number of homeless veterans that reside in
suitable, permanent housing by reason of such serv-
ices.
(B) Number of homeless veterans employed,
and their employment earnings, by of such services.
(C) Number of homeless veterans that have
avoided relapses into the conditions that led to pre-
vious homelessness, such as mental illness or sub-
stance use disorders.
(D) Any other information that Secretaries de-
termine appropriate to evaluate the outcomes of
services furnished to homeless veterans.
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than January 1,
2003, the Secretaries shall implement the methodology es-
tablished under subsection (a).
(d) ANNUAL REPORT.—Beginning with the annual
report to Congress required under section 2061 of title
38, United States Code, as added by section 3(a), for
2004, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, after consultation
with the Secretary of Labor, shall include in that annual
report results of the monitoring of homeless veterans re-
quired under this section.
SEC. 7. ENHANCED-USE LEASES FOR FACILITIES THAT
SERVE HOMELESS VETERANS.
(a) WAIVER OF COMPETITIVE SELECTION PROCESS
FOR ENHANCED-USE LEASES FOR PROPERTIES USED TO
SERVE HOMELESS VETERANS.—Section 8162(b)(1) is
amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ after ‘‘(b)(1)’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(B) In the case of a property that the Secretary de-
termines is appropriate for use as a facility to furnish
services to homeless veterans under chapter 20 of this
title, the Secretary may enter into an enhanced-use lease
without regard to the selection procedures required under
subparagraph (A).’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by
subsection (a) shall apply to leases entered into on or after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF ADDITIONAL DOMICILIARY
CARE PROGRAMS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
may establish up to ten programs under section 1710(b)
of title 38, United States Code (in addition to any such
program that is established as of the date of the enact-
ment of this Act) to provide domiciliary services under sec-
tion 1710(b) of such title to homeless veterans (as defined
in section 2002(1) of such title (as added by section 3(a)).
(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2003 and
2004 to establish the programs referred to in subsection
(a).
SEC. 9. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM RELATING TO REFER-
RAL 
AND 
COUNSELING 
FOR 
VETERANS
TRANSITIONING 
FROM 
CERTAIN 
INSTITU-
TIONS WHO ARE AT RISK FOR HOMELESS-
NESS.
(a) PROGRAM AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs and the Secretary of Labor (hereinafter in
this section referred to as the ‘‘Secretaries’’) shall carry
out a demonstration program for the purpose of deter-
mining the costs and benefits of providing referral and
counseling services to eligible veterans with respect to ben-
efits and services available to such veterans under title 38,
United States Code, and under State law.
(b) LOCATION OF DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.—The
demonstration program shall be carried out in at least six
locations. One location shall be a penal institution under
the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Prisons.
(c) SCOPE OF PROGRAM.—(1) To the extent prac-
ticable, the demonstration program shall provide both re-
ferral and counseling, and in the case of counseling, shall
include counseling with respect to job training and place-
ment, housing, health care, and such other benefits to as-
sist the eligible veteran in the transition from institutional
living.
(2)(A) To the extent that referral or counseling serv-
ices are provided at a location under the program, referral
services shall be provided in person during the 60-day pe-
riod that precedes the date of release or discharge of the
eligible veteran under subsection (f)(1)(B), and counseling
services shall be furnished after such date.
(B) The Secretaries may furnish to officials of penal
institutions outreach information with respect to referral
and counseling services for presentation to veterans in the
custody of such officials during the 18-month period that
precedes such date of release or discharge.