Improving Housing Outcomes for Veterans Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.876 | Sponsor: Rep. Gonzalez, Anthony (R-OH)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Improving Housing Outcomes for Veterans Act of 2021
This bill requires the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to provide medical center staff and homelessness service providers of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with information related to best practices for the collaboration on activities under the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Coordinated Entry program. The VA must also ensure that the information and related resources are accessible to VA medical center staff and homelessness service providers.
Additionally, the bill requires the VHA to communicate with VA employees who have responsibilities related to homelessness assistance programs regarding (1) the measurement of performance by the VA's Homeless Program Office, and (2) how to obtain and provide feedback about the performance measures.

To direct the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans 
   Affairs to provide certain information to Department of Veterans 
    Affairs medical center staff and homelessness service providers 
    regarding the Coordinated Entry program, 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 Housing Outcomes for 
Veterans Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SHARING OF INFORMATION RELATED 
              TO DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT 
              COORDINATED ENTRY PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Under Secretary for Health of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs shall--
            (1) provide to Department of Veterans Affairs medical 
        center staff and homelessness service providers the information 
        described in subsection (b); and
            (2) ensure that such information, and other resources the 
        Under Secretary determines are appropriate, are accessible to 
        Department of Veterans Affairs medical center staff and 
        homelessness service providers.
    (b) Information Described.--The information described in this 
subsection is information related to best practices with respect to the 
collaboration between Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers, 
homelessness service providers, and other local partners (including 
local Department of Housing and Urban Development offices or public 
housing agencies) on activities under the Coordinated Entry program of 
the Department of Housing and Urban Development, including making 
referrals and sharing data, as the Under Secretary determines 
appropriate.

SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMUNICATION WITH EMPLOYEES 
              RESPONSIBLE FOR HOMELESSNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

    The Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs shall clearly communicate with employees of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs whose responsibilities are related to homelessness 
assistance programs regarding--
            (1) the measurement of performance by the Homeless Program 
        Office of the Department; and
            (2) how to obtain and provide feedback about performance 
        measures.
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