Improving Access to Homes for Heroes Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.165 | Sponsor: Rep. Green, Al (D-TX)
Policy area: Housing and Community Development

Summary:
Improving Access to Homes for Heroes Act of 2021
This bill requires public housing agencies to consider the housing needs of veterans when creating their annual plans and housing strategies, the latter in consultation with agencies that serve veterans. Similarly, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) must revise its regulations to require jurisdictions that receive funding from HUD to include information relating to veterans in their consolidated plans.
HUD must also conduct an assessment of the housing needs of very low-income veteran families and report annually on its activities relating to veterans.

To require the inclusion of veterans in housing planning and an annual 
   report on housing assistance to veterans, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Access to Homes for Heroes 
Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. INCLUSION OF VETERANS IN HOUSING PLANNING.

    (a) Public Housing Agency Plans.--Section 5A(d)(1) of the United 
States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437c-1(d)(1)) is amended by 
striking ``and disabled families'' and inserting ``, disabled families, 
and veterans (as such term is defined in section 101 of title 38, 
United States Code)''.
    (b) Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategies.--
            (1) In general.--Section 105 of the Cranston-Gonzalez 
        National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12705) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ``veterans 
                (as such term is defined in section 101 of title 38, 
                United States Code),'' after ``acquired 
                immunodeficiency syndrome,'';
                    (B) in subsection (b)(20), by striking ``and 
                service'' and inserting ``veterans service, and other 
                service''; and
                    (C) in subsection (e)(1), by inserting ``veterans 
                (as such term is defined in section 101 of title 38, 
                United States Code),'' after ``homeless persons,''.
            (2) Consolidated plans.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
        Development shall revise the regulations relating to submission 
        of consolidated plans (part 91 of title 24, Code of Federal 
        Regulations) in accordance with the amendments made by 
        paragraph (1) of this subsection to require inclusion of 
        appropriate information relating to veterans and veterans 
        service agencies in all such plans.

SEC. 3. ANNUAL REPORT ON HOUSING ASSISTANCE TO VETERANS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than December 31 of each year, the 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall submit a report on the 
activities of the Department of Housing and Urban Development relating 
to veterans during such year to the following:
            (1) The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of 
        the Senate.
            (2) The Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate.
            (3) The Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
            (4) The Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (5) The Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (6) The Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (7) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
    (b) Contents.--Each report required under subsection (a) shall 
include the following information with respect to the year for which 
the report is submitted:
            (1) The number of homeless veterans provided assistance 
        under the program of housing choice vouchers for homeless 
        veterans under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing 
        Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)), the socioeconomic 
        characteristics and racial characteristics of such homeless 
        veterans, and the number, types, and locations of entities 
        contracted under such section to administer the vouchers.
            (2) The number of homeless veterans provided assistance 
        under the Tribal HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH) 
        authorized by the Consolidated and Further Continuing 
        Appropriations Act, 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235; 128 Stat. 2733) the 
        socioeconomic characteristics and racial characteristics of 
        such homeless veterans, and the number, types, and locations of 
        entities contracted under such section to administer the 
        vouchers.
            (3) A summary description of the special considerations 
        made for veterans under public housing agency plans submitted 
        pursuant to section 5A of the United States Housing Act of 1937 
        (42 U.S.C. 1437c-1) and under comprehensive housing 
        affordability strategies submitted pursuant to section 105 of 
        the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 
        U.S.C. 12705).
            (4) A description of the activities of the Special 
        Assistant for Veterans Affairs.
            (5) A description of the efforts of the Department of 
        Housing and Urban Development to coordinate the delivery of 
        housing and services to veterans with other Federal departments 
        and agencies, including the Department of Defense, Department 
        of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human 
        Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, Interagency Council 
        on Homelessness, and the Social Security Administration.
            (6) The cost to the Department of Housing and Urban 
        Development of administering the programs and activities 
        relating to veterans.
            (7) Any other information that the Secretary considers 
        relevant in assessing the programs and activities of the 
        Department of Housing and Urban Development relating to 
        veterans.
    (c) Assessment of Housing Needs of Very Low-Income Veteran 
Families.--
            (1) In general.--For the first report submitted pursuant to 
        subsection (a) and every fifth report thereafter, the Secretary 
        of Housing and Urban Development shall--
                    (A) conduct an assessment of the housing needs of 
                very low-income veteran families (as such term is 
                defined in paragraph 5); and
                    (B) shall include in each such report findings 
                regarding such assessment.
            (2) Content.--Each assessment under this subsection shall 
        include--
                    (A) conducting a survey of, and direct interviews 
                with, a representative sample of very low-income 
                veteran families (as such term is defined in paragraph 
                5) to determine past and current--
                            (i) socioeconomic characteristics of such 
                        veteran families;
                            (ii) barriers to such veteran families 
                        obtaining safe, quality, and affordable 
                        housing;
                            (iii) levels of homelessness among such 
                        veteran families; and
                            (iv) levels and circumstances of, and 
                        barriers to, receipt by such veteran families 
                        of rental housing and homeownership assistance; 
                        and
                    (B) such other information that the Secretary 
                determines, in consultation with the Secretary of 
                Veterans Affairs and national nongovernmental 
                organizations concerned with veterans, homelessness, 
                and very low-income housing, may be useful to the 
                assessment.
            (3) Conduct.--If the Secretary contracts with an entity 
        other than the Department of Housing and Urban Development to 
        conduct the assessment under this subsection, such entity shall 
        be a nongovernmental organization determined by the Secretary 
        to have appropriate expertise in quantitative and qualitative 
        social science research.
            (4) Funding.--Of any amounts made available pursuant to 
        section 501 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 
        (42 U.S.C. 1701z-1) for programs of research, studies, testing, 
        or demonstration relating to the mission or programs of the 
        Department of Housing and Urban Development for any fiscal year 
        in which an assessment under this subsection is required 
        pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, $1,000,000 shall 
        be available until expended for costs of the assessment under 
        this subsection.
            (5) Very low-income veteran family.--The term ``very low-
        income veteran family'' means a veteran family whose income 
        does not exceed 50 percent of the median income for the area, 
        as determined by the Secretary with adjustments for smaller and 
        larger families, except that the Secretary may establish an 
        income ceiling higher or lower than 50 percent of the median 
        for the area on the basis of the Secretary's findings that such 
        variations are necessary because of prevailing levels of 
        construction costs or fair market rents (as determined under 
        section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
        1437f)).
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