Healthy Foundations for Homeless Veterans Act

Bill: 118-hr-645
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]
Introduced: 2023-01-31
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Homelessness and emergency shelter

Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Veterans' organizations and recognition
Latest action: action_date: 2023-04-18
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-01-31
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Healthy Foundations for Homeless Veterans Act</b></p> <p>This bill permanently authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to use specified funding to provide assistance to homeless veterans and veterans participating in the Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. Additionally, the VA may collaborate with one or more organizations to manage the use of VA land for homeless veterans for living and sleeping. (Under current law, similar authorities have been temporarily provided to the VA for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.) </p>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 645 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 31, 2023 Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick (for herself, Mr. Takano , Ms. Castor of Florida , Ms. Wilson of Florida , Mr. Deluzio , Mr. Case , Ms. Tlaib , Ms. Kamlager-Dove , Ms. Norton , and Ms. Brownley ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to permanently authorize the use of certain funds to improve flexibility in the provision of assistance to homeless veterans, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Healthy Foundations for Homeless Veterans Act . 2. Authorization of use of certain funds for improved flexibility in assistance to homeless veterans Subtitle VII of chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section (and conforming the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter accordingly): 2068. Flexibility in provision of assistance to homeless veterans (a) Use of funds The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may use amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out section 2011, 2012, 2031, or 2061 of this chapter to provide to homeless veterans and veterans participating in the program carried out under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19) ), as the Secretary determines necessary, the following: (1) Assistance required for the safety and survival of the veteran (such as food, shelter, clothing, blankets, and hygiene items). (2) Transportation required to support the stability and health of the veteran (such as transportation for appointments with service providers, the conduct of housing searches, and the obtainment of food and supplies). (3) Communications equipment and services (such as tablets, smartphones, disposable phones, and related service plans) required to support the stability and health of the veteran (such as through the maintenance of contact with service providers, prospective landlords, and family members). (4) Such other assistance as the Secretary determines necessary. (b) Homeless veterans on Department land (1) The Secretary may collaborate, to the extent practicable, with one or more organizations to manage the use of land of the Department for homeless veterans for living and sleeping. (2) Collaboration under paragraph (1) may include the provision by either the Secretary or the head of the organization concerned of food services and security for property, buildings, and other facilities owned or controlled by the Department. .