II
Calendar No. 201
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2716
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
OCTOBER 17, 2001
Received; read twice and placed on the calendar
AN ACT
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,
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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
‘‘Stuart Collick—Heather French Henry Homeless Vet-
erans Assistance Act’’.
(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
responsibility of Federal agencies.
Sec. 5. Consolidation and improvement of provisions of law relating to homeless
veterans.
Sec. 6. Evaluation of homeless programs.
Sec. 7. Study of outcome effectiveness of grant program for homeless veterans
with special needs.
Sec. 8. Additional programmatic expansions.
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).
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(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.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL GOAL TO END HOMELESSNESS AMONG
VETERANS.
(a) NATIONAL GOAL.—Congress hereby declares it to
be a national goal to end chronic homelessness among vet-
erans within a decade of the enactment of this Act.
(b) COOPERATIVE EFFORTS ENCOURAGED.—Con-
gress hereby encourages all departments and agencies of
Federal, State, and local governments, quasi-governmental
organizations, private and public sector entities, including
community-based organizations, faith-based organizations,
and individuals to work cooperatively to end chronic home-
lessness among veterans within a decade.
SEC. 4. 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) homelessness is a significant problem in the
veterans community and veterans are disproportion-
ately represented among homeless men;
(2) While many effective programs assist home-
less veterans to again become productive and self-
sufficient members of society, current resources pro-
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vided to such programs and other activities that as-
sist homeless veterans are inadequate to provide all
needed essential services, assistance, and support to
homeless veterans;
(3) the most effective programs for the assist-
ance of homeless veterans should be identified and
expanded;
(4) federally funded programs for homeless vet-
erans should be held accountable for achieving clear-
ly 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 and the Department of
Housing and Urban Development, 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 insert-
ing after chapter 19 the following new chapter:
‘‘CHAPTER 20—BENEFITS FOR HOMELESS
VETERANS
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS; ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
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‘‘Sec.
‘‘2001. Purpose.
‘‘2002. Definitions.
‘‘2003. Staffing requirements.
‘‘2004. Employment assistance.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II—COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS
‘‘2011. Grants.
‘‘2012. Per diem payments.
‘‘2013. Authorization of appropriations.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III—TRAINING AND OUTREACH
‘‘2021. Homeless veterans’ reintegration programs.
‘‘2022. Coordination of outreach services for veterans at risk of homelessness.
‘‘2023. Demonstration program relating to referral and counseling for veterans
transitioning from certain institutions who are at risk for
homelessness.
‘‘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
therapies.
‘‘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. Technical assistance grants for nonprofit community-based groups.
‘‘2064. Annual report on assistance to homeless veterans.
‘‘2065. Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.
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‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS;
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
‘‘§ 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 vet-
eran who—
‘‘(A) lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate
nighttime residence; or
‘‘(B) has a primary nighttime residence
that is—
‘‘(i) a supervised publicly or privately
operated shelter designed to provide tem-
porary living accommodations (including
welfare hotels, congregate shelters, grant
per diem shelters and transitional housing
for the mentally ill);
‘‘(ii) an institution that provides a
temporary residence for individuals in-
tended to be institutionalized; or
‘‘(iii) a public or private place not de-
signed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular
sleeping accommodation for human beings.
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‘‘(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 assigned at each Vet-
erans Benefits Administration regional office at least one
employee assigned specifically to oversee and coordinate
homeless veterans programs in that region. In any such
regional office with at least 140 employees, there shall be
at least one full-time employee assigned to such functions.
The programs covered by such oversight and coordination
include the following:
‘‘(1) The housing program for veterans sup-
ported by the Department of Housing and Urban
Development.
‘‘(2) Housing programs supported by the Sec-
retary under this title or any other provision of law.
‘‘(3) The homeless veterans reintegration pro-
gram of the Department of Labor under section
2021 of this title.
‘‘(4) The programs under section 2033 of this
title.
‘‘(5) The assessments required by section 2034
of this title.
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‘‘(6) Such other duties relating to homeless vet-
erans as may be assigned.
‘‘(b) VHA CASE MANAGERS.—The Secretary 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.
‘‘§ 2004. Employment assistance
‘‘The Secretary may authorize homeless veterans re-
ceiving care through vocational rehabilitation programs to
participate in the compensated work therapy program
under section 1718 of this title.
‘‘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.
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‘‘(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 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.
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‘‘(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—
‘‘(A) such State and community require-
ments that may apply; and
‘‘(B) the fire and safety requirements ap-
plicable under the Life Safety Code of the Na-
tional Fire Protection Association.
‘‘(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).
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‘‘(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
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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.
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‘‘(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.
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‘‘(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.
‘‘(h) RECOVERY OF UNUSED GRANT FUNDS.—(1) If
a grant recipient (or entity eligible for such a grant) under
this section does not establish a program 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 or
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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.
‘‘(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 awarded.
‘‘§ 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
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‘‘(B) for whom the Secretary has authorized the
provision of services.
‘‘(2) The rate for such per diem payments shall be
the rate authorized for State homes 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) 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.
‘‘(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 unless the facilities
of the grant recipient meet the fire and safety require-
ments applicable under the Life Safety Code of the Na-
tional Fire Protection Association.
‘‘(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
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3 of the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Pro-
grams Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–590; 38 U.S.C. 7721
note) before that date if the entity meets fire and safety
requirements 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 meet-
ing the Life Safety Code of the National Fire Protection
Association.
‘‘§ 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 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-
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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.
‘‘(2) The information under paragraph (1) shall be
furnished to the Secretary of Labor in such form as the
Secretary considers appropriate.
‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATION THROUGH
THE ASSISTANT
SECRETARY OF LABOR FOR VETERANS’ EMPLOYMENT
AND TRAINING.—The Secretary of Labor shall carry out
this section through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Veterans’ Employment and Training.
‘‘(d) ANNUAL REPORT
TO CONGRESS.—The Sec-
retary of Labor shall submit to Congress an annual report
that evaluates services furnished to veterans under this
section, and includes an analysis of the information col-
lected under subsection (c).
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‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—(1)
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
section amounts as follows:
‘‘(A) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2002.
‘‘(B) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.
‘‘(C) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.
‘‘(D) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2005.
‘‘(E) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2006.
‘‘(2) Funds appropriated to carry out this section
shall remain available until expended. Funds obligated in
any fiscal year to carry out this section may be expended
in that fiscal year and the succeeding fiscal year.
‘‘§ 2022. Coordination of outreach services for vet-
erans at risk of homelessness
‘‘(a) OUTREACH
PLAN.—The Secretary, acting
through the Under Secretary for Health, shall provide for
appropriate officials of the Mental Health Service and the
Readjustment Counseling Service of the Veterans Health
Administration to initiate a coordinated plan for joint out-
reach to veterans at risk of homelessness, including par-
ticularly veterans who are being discharged from institu-
tions (including discharges from inpatient psychiatric
care, substance abuse treatment programs, and penal in-
stitutions).
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‘‘(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The outreach
plan under subsection (a) shall include the following:
‘‘(1) Strategies to identify and collaborate with
external entities used by veterans who have not tra-
ditionally used Department services to further out-
reach efforts.
‘‘(2) Strategies to ensure that mentoring pro-
grams, recovery support groups, and other appro-
priate support networks are optimally available to
veterans.
‘‘(3) Appropriate programs or referrals to fam-
ily support programs.
‘‘(4) Means to increase access to case manage-
ment services.
‘‘(5) Plans for making additional employment
services accessible to veterans.
‘‘(6) Appropriate referral sources for mental
health and substance abuse services.
‘‘(c) COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIPS.—The plan shall
identify strategies for the Department to enter into formal
cooperative relationships with entities outside the Depart-
ment to facilitate making services and resources optimally
available to veterans.
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‘‘(d) REVIEW OF PLAN.—The Secretary shall submit
the plan under subsection (a) to the Advisory Committee
on Homeless Veterans for its review and consultation.
‘‘(e) OUTREACH PROGRAM.—(1) The Secretary shall
carry out an outreach program to provide information to
homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness.
The program shall include at a minimum—
‘‘(A) provision of information about benefits
available to eligible veterans from the Department;
and
‘‘(B) contact information for local Department
facilities, including medical facilities, regional offices,
and veterans centers.
‘‘(2) In developing and carrying out the program
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, to the extent
practicable, consult with appropriate public and private or-
ganizations, including the Bureau of Prisons, State social
service agencies, the Department of Defense, and mental
health, veterans, and homeless advocates—
‘‘(A) for assistance in identifying and con-
tacting veterans who are homeless or at risk of
homelessness;
‘‘(B) to coordinate appropriate outreach activi-
ties with those organizations; and
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‘‘(C) to coordinate services provided to veterans
with services provided by those organizations.
‘‘(f) SUBMISSION OF REPORT.—Not later than two
years after the date of the enactment of this section, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report
on the Secretary’s plan under subsection (a), including
goals and time lines for implementation of the plan for
particular facilities and service networks.
‘‘§ 2023. Demonstration program relating to referral
and counseling for veterans transitioning
from certain institutions who are at risk
for homelessness
‘‘(a) PROGRAM AUTHORITY.—The Secretary and the
Secretary of Labor (hereinafter in this section referred to
as the ‘Secretaries’) shall carry out a demonstration pro-
gram for the purpose of determining the costs and benefits
of providing referral and counseling services to eligible vet-
erans with respect to benefits and services available to
such veterans under this title 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.
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‘‘(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
services are provided at a location under the program, re-
ferral services shall be provided in person during the 60-
day period 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.
‘‘(3) The Secretaries may enter into contracts to
carry out the counseling required under the demonstration
program with entities or organizations that meet such re-
quirements as the Secretaries may establish.
‘‘(4) In developing the demonstration program, the
Secretaries shall consult with officials of the Bureau of
Prisons, officials of penal institutions of States and polit-
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ical subdivisions of States, and such other officials as the
Secretaries determine appropriate.
‘‘(d) REPORT.—(1) Not later than two years after the
commencement of the demonstration program, the Sec-
retary (after consultation with the Secretary of Labor)
shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of
the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on
the program.
‘‘(2) The report under paragraph (1) shall include the
following:
‘‘(A) A description of the implementation and
operation of the program.
‘‘(B) An evaluation of the effectiveness of the
program.
‘‘(C) Recommendations, if any, regarding an ex-
tension of the program.
‘‘(e) DURATION.—The authority of the Secretaries to
provide counseling services under the demonstration pro-
gram shall cease on the date that is four years after the
date of the commencement of the demonstration program.
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
‘‘(1) The term ‘eligible veteran’ means a vet-
eran who—
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‘‘(A) is a resident of a penal institution or
an institution that provides long-term care for
mental illness;
‘‘(B) is expected to be imminently released
or discharged (as the case may be) from the fa-
cility or institution; and
‘‘(C) is at risk for homelessness absent re-
ferral and counseling services provided under
the program (as determined under guidelines
established by the Secretaries).
‘‘(2) The term ‘imminent’ means, with respect
to a release or discharge under paragraph (1)(B),
the 60-day period that ends on the date of such re-
lease or discharge.
‘‘SUBCHAPTER V—HOUSING ASSISTANCE
‘‘§ 2042. Supported housing for veterans participating
in compensated work therapies
‘‘The Secretary may authorize homeless veterans in
the compensated work therapy program to be provided
housing through the therapeutic residence program under
section 2032 of title or through grant and per diem pro-
viders under subchapter II of this chapter.
‘‘§ 2043. Domiciliary care programs
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may establish up
to 10 programs under section 1710(b) of this title (in ad-
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dition to any such program that is established as of the
date of the enactment of this section) to provide domi-
ciliary services under such section to homeless veterans.
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2003 and 2004 to es-
tablish the programs referred to in subsection (a).
‘‘SUBCHAPTER VII—OTHER PROVISIONS
‘‘§ 2061. Grant program for homeless veterans with
special needs
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall carry
out a program to make grants to health care facilities of
the Department and to grant and per diem providers in
order to encourage development by those facilities and
providers of programs targeted at meeting special needs
within the population of homeless veterans.
‘‘(b) SPECIAL NEEDS.—For purposes of this section,
homeless veterans with special needs include homeless vet-
erans who—
‘‘(1) are women;
‘‘(2) are 50 years of age or older;
‘‘(3) are substance abusers;
‘‘(4) are persons with post-traumatic stress dis-
order;
‘‘(5) are terminally ill;
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‘‘(6) are chronically mentally ill; or
‘‘(7) have care of minor dependents or other
family members.
‘‘(c) FUNDING.—(1) From amounts appropriated to
the Department for ‘Medical Care’ for each of fiscal years
2003, 2004, and 2005, the amount of $10,000,000 shall
be available for the purposes of the program under this
section.
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall ensure that funds for grants
under this section are designated for the first three years
of operation of the program under this section as a special
purpose program for which funds are not allocated
through the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation sys-
tem.
‘‘§ 2062. Dental care
‘‘(a) 
IN
GENERAL.—For 
purposes 
of 
section
1712(a)(1)(H) of this title, outpatient dental services and
treatment of a dental condition or disability of a veteran
described in subsection (b) shall be considered to be medi-
cally necessary, subject to subsection (c), if—
‘‘(1) the dental services and treatment are nec-
essary for the veteran to successfully gain or regain
employment;
‘‘(2) the dental services and treatment are nec-
essary to alleviate pain; or
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‘‘(3) the dental services and treatment are nec-
essary for treatment of moderate, severe, or severe
and complicated gingival and periodontal pathology.
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE VETERANS.—Subsection (a) applies
to a veteran who is—
‘‘(1) enrolled for care under section 1705(a) of
this title; and
‘‘(2) who is receiving care (directly or by con-
tract) in any of the following settings:
‘‘(A) A domiciliary under section 1710 of
this title.
‘‘(B) A therapeutic residence under section
2032 of this title.
‘‘(C) Community residential care coordi-
nated by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
under section 1730 of this title.
‘‘(D) A setting for which the Secretary
provides funds for a grant and per diem pro-
vider.
‘‘(c) LIMITATION.—Dental benefits provided by rea-
son of this section shall be a one-time course of dental
care provided in the same manner as the dental benefits
provided to a newly discharged veteran.
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‘‘§ 2063. Technical assistance grants for nonprofit
community-based groups
‘‘(a) GRANT PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall carry
out a program to make technical assistance grants to non-
profit community-based groups with experience in pro-
viding assistance to homeless veterans in order to assist
such groups in applying for grants under this chapter and
other grants relating to addressing problems of homeless
veterans.
‘‘(b) FUNDING.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary the amount of $750,000 for each
of fiscal years 2002 through 2005 to carry out the pro-
gram under this section.
‘‘§ 2064. Annual report on assistance to homeless vet-
erans
‘‘(a) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than April 15 of
each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees
on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the activities of the Department
during the calendar year preceding the report under pro-
grams of the Department under this chapter and other
programs of the Department for the provision of assist-
ance to homeless veterans.
‘‘(b) GENERAL CONTENTS OF REPORT.—Each report
under subsection (a) shall include the following:
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‘‘(1) The number of homeless veterans provided
assistance under those programs.
‘‘(2) The cost to the Department of providing
such assistance under those programs.
‘‘(3) Any other information on those programs
and on the provision of such assistance that the Sec-
retary considers appropriate.
‘‘(4) The Secretary’s evaluation of the effective-
ness of the programs of the Department (including
residential work-therapy programs, programs com-
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.
‘‘(c) HEALTH CARE CONTENTS OF REPORT.—Each
report under subsection (a) shall include the following with
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respect to programs of the Department addressing health
care needs of homeless veterans:
‘‘(1) Information about expenditures, costs, and
workload under the program of the Department
known as the Health Care for Homeless Veterans
program (HCHV).
‘‘(2) Information about the veterans contacted
through that program.
‘‘(3) Information about processes under that
program.
‘‘(4) Information about program treatment out-
comes under that program.
‘‘(5) Information about supported housing pro-
grams.
‘‘(6) Information about the Department’s grant
and per diem provider program under subchapter II
of this chapter.
‘‘(7) Other information the Secretary considers
relevant in assessing the program.
‘‘§ 2065. Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans
‘‘(a)(1) There is established in the Department the
Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans (hereinafter in
this section referred to as the ‘Committee’).
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‘‘(2) The Committee shall consist of not more than
15 members appointed by the Secretary from among the
following:
‘‘(A) Veterans service organizations.
‘‘(B) Advocates of homeless veterans and other
homeless individuals.
‘‘(C) Community-based providers of services to
homeless individuals.
‘‘(D) Previously homeless veterans.
‘‘(E) State veterans affairs officials.
‘‘(F) Experts in the treatment of individuals
with mental illness.
‘‘(G) Experts in the treatment of substance use
disorders.
‘‘(H) Experts in the development of permanent
housing alternatives for lower income populations.
‘‘(I) Experts in vocational rehabilitation.
‘‘(J) Such other organizations or groups as the
Secretary considers appropriate.
‘‘(3) The Committee shall include, as ex officio
members—
‘‘(A) the Secretary of Labor (or a representa-
tive of the Secretary selected after consultation with
the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Em-
ployment);
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‘‘(B) the Secretary of Defense (or a representa-
tive of the Secretary);
‘‘(C) the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices (or a representative of the Secretary); and
‘‘(D) the Secretary of Housing and Urban De-
velopment (or a representative of the Secretary).
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall determine the terms of serv-
ice and pay and allowances of the members of the Com-
mittee, except that a term of service may not exceed three
years. The Secretary may reappoint any member for addi-
tional terms of service.
‘‘(b)(1) The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, con-
sult with and seek the advice of the Committee with re-
spect to the provision by the Department of benefits and
services to homeless veterans.
‘‘(2)(A) In providing advice to the Secretary under
this subsection, the Committee shall—
‘‘(i) assemble and review information relating to
the needs of homeless veterans;
‘‘(ii) provide an on-going assessment of the ef-
fectiveness of the policies, organizational structures,
and services of the Department in assisting homeless
veterans; and
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‘‘(iii) provide on-going advice on the most ap-
propriate means of providing assistance to homeless
veterans.
‘‘(3) The Committee shall—
‘‘(A) review the continuum of services provided
by the Department directly or by contract in order
to define cross-cutting issues and to improve coordi-
nation of all services with the Department that are
involved in addressing the special needs of homeless
veterans;
‘‘(B) identify (through the annual assessments
under section 2034 of this title and other available
resources) gaps in programs of the Department in
serving homeless veterans, including identification of
geographic areas with unmet needs, and provide rec-
ommendations to address those program gaps;
‘‘(C) identify gaps in existing information sys-
tems on homeless veterans, both within and outside
of the Department, and provide recommendations
about redressing problems in data collection;
‘‘(D) identify barriers under existing laws and
policies to effective coordination by the Department
with other Federal agencies and with State and local
agencies addressing homeless populations;
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‘‘(E) identify opportunities for increased liaison
by the Department with nongovernmental organiza-
tions and individual groups addressing homeless
populations;
‘‘(F) with appropriate officials of the Depart-
ment designated by the Secretary, participate with
the Interagency Council on the Homeless under title
II of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
(42 U.S.C. 11311 et seq.);
‘‘(G) recommend appropriate funding levels for
specialized programs for homeless veterans provided
or funded by the Department;
‘‘(H) recommend appropriate placement options
for veterans who, because of advanced age, frailty,
or severe mental illness, may not be appropriate can-
didates for vocational rehabilitation or independent
living; and
‘‘(I) perform such other functions as the Sec-
retary may direct.
‘‘(c)(1) Not later than March 31 of each year, the
Committee shall submit to the Secretary a report on the
programs and activities of the Department that relate to
homeless veterans. Each such report shall include—
‘‘(A) an assessment of the needs of homeless
veterans;
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‘‘(B) a review of the programs and activities of
the Department designed to meet such needs;
‘‘(C) a review of the activities of the Committee;
and
‘‘(D) such recommendations (including rec-
ommendations for administrative and legislative ac-
tion) as the Committee considers appropriate.
‘‘(2) Not later than 90 days after the receipt of a
report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit
to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and
House of Representatives a copy of the report, together
with any comments and recommendations concerning the
report that the Secretary considers appropriate.
‘‘(3) The Committee may also submit to the Sec-
retary such other reports and recommendations as the
Committee considers appropriate.
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall submit with each annual re-
port submitted to the Congress pursuant to section 529
of this title a summary of all reports and recommendations
of the Committee submitted to the Secretary since the pre-
vious annual report of the Secretary submitted pursuant
to that section.
‘‘(d) The Committee shall cease to exist December
31, 2006.’’.
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(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 2023 (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 2043 (as added by subsection
(a)), and sections 3772, 3773, 3774, and 3775 therein are
redesignated as sections 2051, 2052, 2053, and 2054, re-
spectively.
(2) Such subchapter is amended—
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(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) EXTENSION OF EXPIRING AUTHORITIES.—Sub-
section (b) of section 2031, as redesignated by subsection
(b)(1), and subsection (d) of section 2033, as so redesig-
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nated, are amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2001’’ and
inserting ‘‘December 31, 2006’’.
(g) 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. 6. EVALUATION OF HOMELESS PROGRAMS.
(a) EVALUATION CENTERS.—The Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall support the continuation within the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs of at least one center for
evaluation to monitor the structure, process, and outcome
of programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs that
address homeless veterans.
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(b) 
ANNUAL
PROGRAM
ASSESSMENT.—Section
2034(b), as transferred and redesignated by section
5(b)(1), is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘annual’’ in paragraph (1)
after ‘‘to make an’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(6) The Secretary shall review each annual assess-
ment under this subsection and shall consolidate the find-
ings and conclusions of those assessments into an annual
report to be submitted to Congress.’’.
SEC. 7. STUDY OF OUTCOME EFFECTIVENESS OF GRANT
PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS VETERANS WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS.
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
conduct a study of the effectiveness during fiscal year
2002 through fiscal year 2004 of the grant program under
section 2061 of title 38, United States Code, as added by
section 5(a), in meeting the needs of homeless veterans
with special needs (as specified in that section). As part
of the study, the Secretary shall compare the results of
programs carried out under that section, in terms of vet-
erans’ satisfaction, health status, reduction in addiction
severity, housing, and encouragement of productive activ-
ity, with results for similar veterans in programs of the