I
104TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4132
To require that a portion of the amounts made available for housing programs
for the homeless be used for housing for homeless veterans.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 23, 1996
Mr. METCALF introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Banking and Financial Services
A BILL
To require that a portion of the amounts made available
for housing programs for the homeless be used for hous-
ing 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.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Robert Stodola Home-
less Veterans Assistance Act’’.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle A of title IV of the Stew-
art B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
11361 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the follow-
ing new section:
‘‘SEC. 402. DEFINITION OF VETERAN.
‘‘For purposes of this title, the term ‘veteran’ has the
meaning given such term in section 101 of title 38, United
States Code.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents
in section 101(b) of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless
Assistance Act is amended by inserting after the item re-
lating to section 401 the following new item:
‘‘Sec. 402. Definition of veteran.’’.
SEC. 3. EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANTS PROGRAM.
Section 413 of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11373) is amended by adding
at the end the following new subsection:
‘‘(f) VETERANS’ SHARE.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each metropolitan city,
urban county, State, and Indian tribe for which as-
sistance under this subtitle is provided shall ensure
that not less than 20 percent of the total amount re-
ceived by the city, county, State, or tribe in each fis-
cal year shall be used for eligible activities benefiting
homeless persons who are veterans.
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—Upon the request of a met-
ropolitan city, urban county, State, or Indian tribe,
the Secretary may, with respect to a fiscal year,
waive the requirement under paragraph (1) or re-
duce the percentage under such paragraph for the
city, county, State, or tribe if the city, county, State,
or tribe demonstrates to the Secretary that, but for
such waiver or reduction, amounts of assistance
under this subtitle for the city, county, State, or
tribe will remain unused for an unreasonable period
of time.’’.
SEC. 4. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM.
(a) SELECTION CRITERIA.—Section 426(b) of the
Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
11386(b)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (6) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the
end;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (7) as para-
graph (8); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the follow-
ing new paragraph:
‘‘(7) such factors as the Secretary considers
necessary to ensure compliance with the require-
ments under section 429(b)(4); and’’.
(b) VETERANS’ SHARE.—Section 429(b) of the Stew-
art B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
11389(b)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the
end;
(2) in paragraph (3) by striking the period at
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(4) not less than 20 percent shall be allocated
for use only for projects and supportive services ben-
efiting homeless persons who are veterans; except
that the Secretary may, with respect to a fiscal year,
waive the requirement under this paragraph or re-
duce the percentage if the Secretary determines
(based on approvable applications submitted for as-
sistance under this subtitle) that, but for such waiv-
er or reduction, amounts appropriated for such fiscal
year to carry out this subtitle will remain unused for
an unreasonable period of time.’’.
SEC. 5. SAFE HAVENS FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS DEM-
ONSTRATION PROGRAM.
(a) SELECTION CRITERIA.—Section 434(c) of the
Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
11394(c)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (6) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the
end;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (7) as para-
graph (8); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the follow-
ing new paragraph:
‘‘(7) such factors as the Secretary considers
necessary to ensure compliance with the require-
ments under subsection (e); and’’.
(b) VETERANS’ SHARE.—Section 434 of the Stewart
B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new subsection:
‘‘(e) VETERANS’ SHARE.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In making grants to appli-
cants under this subtitle, the Secretary shall ensure
that not less than 20 percent of the amount made
available for each fiscal year to carry out this sub-
title is used for eligible activities benefiting homeless
persons who are veterans.
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary may, with re-
spect to a fiscal year, waive the requirement under
paragraph (1) or reduce the percentage under such
paragraph if the Secretary determines (based on ap-
provable applications submitted for assistance under
this subtitle) that, but for such waiver or reduction,
amounts made available for such fiscal year to carry
out this subtitle will remain unused for an unreason-
able period of time.’’.
SEC. 6. SECTION 8 PROGRAM FOR SINGLE ROOM OCCU-
PANCY DWELLINGS.
(a) SELECTION CRITERIA.—The first sentence of sec-
tion 441(c) of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assist-
ance Act (42 U.S.C. 11401(c)) is amended by inserting
before the period the following: ‘‘, while ensuring compli-
ance with the requirements under subsection (k)’’.
(b) VETERANS’ SHARE.—Section 441 of the Stewart
B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new subsection:
‘‘(k) VETERANS’ SHARE.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In allocating amounts to
applicants under this section, the Secretary shall en-
sure that not less than 20 percent of the amounts
made available for each fiscal year to carry out this
section are used for assistance benefiting homeless
persons who are veterans.
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary may, with re-
spect to a fiscal year, waive the requirement under
paragraph (1) or reduce the percentage under such
paragraph if the Secretary determines (based on ap-
provable applications submitted for assistance under
this section) that, but for such waiver or reduction,
amounts made available for such fiscal year to carry
out this section will remain unused for an unreason-
able period of time.’’.
SEC. 7. SHELTER PLUS CARE PROGRAM.
(a) SELECTION CRITERIA.—Section 455(a) of the
Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
11403d(a)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (8) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the
end;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (9) as para-
graph (10); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (8) the follow-
ing new paragraph:
‘‘(9) such factors as the Secretary considers
necessary to ensure compliance with the require-
ments under subsection (d); and’’.
(b) VETERANS’ SHARE.—Section 455 of the Stewart
B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new subsection:
‘‘(d) VETERANS’ SHARE.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—In providing assistance to
applicants under this subtitle, the Secretary shall en-
sure that not less than 20 percent of the amount
made available for each fiscal year to carry out this
subtitle is used for rental assistance benefiting
homeless persons who are veterans.
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary may, with re-
spect to a fiscal year, waive the requirement under
paragraph (1) or reduce the percentage under such
paragraph if the Secretary determines (based on ap-
provable applications submitted for assistance under
this subtitle) that, but for such waiver or reduction,
amounts made available for such fiscal year to carry
out this subtitle will remain unused for an unreason-
able period of time.’’.
SEC. 8. RURAL HOMELESSNESS GRANT PROGRAM.
Section 491(c) of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11408(c)) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new paragraph:
‘‘(4) VETERANS’ SHARE.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—In awarding grants
under subsection (a) for a fiscal year, the Sec-
retary shall ensure that not less than 20 per-
cent of the amount made available for the fiscal
year for such grants is used for eligible activi-
ties under subsection (b) benefiting homeless
persons who are veterans.
‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary may,
with respect to a fiscal year, waive the require-
ment under subparagraph (A) or reduce the
percentage under such subparagraph if the Sec-
retary determines (based on approvable applica-
tions submitted for grants under this section)
that, but for such waiver or reduction, amounts
made available for such fiscal year to carry out
this section will remain unused for an unrea-
sonable period of time.’’.
SEC. 9. INNOVATIVE HOMELESS INITIATIVES DEMONSTRA-
TION PROGRAM.
(a) COMPREHENSIVE HOMELESS INITIATIVE.—Sec-
tion 2(c)(5) of the HUD Demonstration Act of 1993 (42
U.S.C. 11301 note) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (E) by striking ‘‘and’’ at
the end;
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as sub-
paragraph (G); and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the fol-
lowing new subparagraph:
‘‘(F) provides that not less than 20 percent
of the total amount received by the recipient
shall be used for projects and activities benefit-
ing homeless persons who are veterans; except
that, upon the request of a jurisdiction, the
Secretary may, with respect to a fiscal year,
waive the requirement under this subparagraph
or reduce the percentage for such recipient ju-
risdiction if the recipient demonstrates to the
Secretary that, but for such waiver or reduc-
tion, assistance amounts under this subsection
for the recipient for such fiscal year will remain
unused for an unreasonable period of time.’’.
(b) INNOVATIVE PROJECT FUNDING.—
(1) SELECTION CRITERIA.—Section 2(d)(3) of
the HUD Demonstration Act of 1993 is amended—
(A) in subparagraph (D) by striking ‘‘and’’
at the end;
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as
subparagraph (F); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (D)
the following new subparagraph:
‘‘(E) such factors as the Secretary consid-
ers necessary to ensure compliance with the re-
quirements under paragraph (4); and’’.
(2) VETERANS’ SHARE.—Section 2(d) of the
HUD Demonstration Act of 1993 is amended by
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
‘‘(4) VETERANS’ SHARE.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—In awarding assist-
ance under this subsection for a fiscal year, the
Secretary shall ensure that not less than 20
percent of the amount made available for the
fiscal year for such assistance is used for
projects and activities benefiting homeless per-
sons who are veterans.
‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary may,
with respect to a fiscal year, waive the require-
ment under subparagraph (A) or reduce the
percentage under such subparagraph if the Sec-
retary determines (based on approvable applica-
tions submitted for assistance under this sub-
section) that, but for such waiver or reduction,
amounts made available for such fiscal year to
carry out this subsection will remain unused for
an unreasonable period of time.’’.
(c) DEFINITION.—Section 2(b) of the HUD Dem-
onstration Act of 1993 is amended by adding at the end
the following new paragraph:
‘‘(7) For purposes of this title, the term ‘vet-
eran’ has the meaning given such term in section
101 of title 38, United States Code.’’.
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