Sec. 2
Per diem payments provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for services furnished to homeless veterans
Section 2012 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(i)
changed
in clause (i)(II)(aa)(BB)—(i)(II)(aa)(BB), by striking “115 percent” and inserting “133 percent”; and
(I)
removed
by striking “115 percent” and inserting “133 percent”; and
(II)
removed
by inserting “, plus a percentage increase to such rate equal to the percentage determined under section 3564(a) of this title” after “of that section”;
(ii)
removed
in clause (ii), by striking “150” and inserting “140”; and
(ii)
renumbered
was (3)(2)(4)
by adding at the end the following:
added
“(iii) During each of fiscal years 2024 through 2026, the Secretary may waive the maximum rate for per diem payments under clause (i)(II)(aa)(BB) or (ii) and, subject to the availability of appropriations, provide such payments at a rate that does not exceed 200 percent of the rate authorized for State homes for domiciliary care under subsection (a)(1)(A) of section 1741 of this title, as the Secretary may increase from time to time under subsection (c) of that section if the Secretary notifies Congress of such waiver.
added
“(iv) The Secretary may not, pursuant to clause (iii), waive the maximum rate described in such clause for more than 50 percent of all grant recipients and eligible entities in a fiscal year.”
removed
“(iii) Subject to clause (iv), the Secretary may waive the maximum rate for per diem payments under clause (i)(II)(aa)(BB) or (ii) and provide such payments at a rate that does not exceed 200 percent of the rate authorized for State homes for domiciliary care under subsection (a)(1)(A) of section 1741 of this title, as the Secretary may increase from time to time under subsection (c) of that section, if the Secretary—
removed
“(I) determines that the grant recipient or eligible entity furnishes services to homeless veterans in—
removed
“(aa) a rural or highly rural area;
removed
“(bb) an area with a high rate of suicide among veterans; or
removed
“(cc) an area with a high rate of homelessness among veterans; and
removed
“(II) notifies Congress of the need for such waiver.
removed
“(iv) The Secretary may not, pursuant to clause (iii), waive the maximum rate described in such clause for more than 10 percent of all grant recipients and eligible entities in a fiscal year.”
(B)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
changed
“(4) The Secretary may not provide more than 10,500 12,000 per diem payments under this section in a fiscal year.”
(2)
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(f) Reports required—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the HOME Act of 2023, and not less frequently than twice each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the rate for per diem payments under this section that includes, for each Veterans Integrated Service Network of the Department, the following data:
“(1) The average rate for such a payment.
“(2) A list of locations where the rate for such a payment is within 10 percent of the maximum rate for such a payment authorized under this section.
changed
“(3) The average length of stay by a veteran participating in a program described in section 2011(a) 2012(a) of this title.”
Sec. 3
Authorization for Secretary of Veterans Affairs to use of certain funds for improved flexibility in assistance to homeless veterans
(a)
added
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 title 38, United States Code, to provide to a covered veteran, as the Secretary determines necessary—
(1)
added
food, shelter, clothing, blankets, and hygiene items required for the safety and survival of the veteran;
(2)
added
transportation required to support the stability and health of the veteran for appointments with service providers, the conduct of housing searches, and the obtainment of food and supplies; and
(3)
added
tablets, smartphones, disposable phones, and related service plans required to support the stability and health of the veteran through the maintenance of contact with service providers, prospective landlords, and family members.
(b)
added
Homeless veterans on Department of Veterans Affairs land—
removed
Section 2 of West Los Angeles Leasing Act of 2016 (Public Law 114–226) is amended—
(1)
removed
in subsection (h)(1)—
(1)
changed
In general— by striking “that is not in compliance The Secretary may collaborate, to the extent practicable, with such laws” both places it appears;one or more organizations to manage the use of land of the Department of Veterans Affairs for homeless veterans for living and sleeping.
(2)
changed
Forms of collaboration— Collaboration under paragraph (1) may include the provision by striking “certifies” either the Secretary or the head of the organization concerned of food services and inserting “submits”; andsecurity for property, buildings, and other facilities owned or controlled by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(C)
removed
by striking “that all recommendations included in the audit report or evaluation have been implemented” and inserting “notice in writing of whether the Secretary concurred or did not concur with each recommendation included in the audit report or evaluation and, in the case of any nonconcurrence, the reasons for such nonconcurrence”; and
(c)
changed
Report required— by adding Not later than six months after the following new subsection:date of the enactment of this Act, and every six months thereafter until the date specified in subsection (d), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes, with respect to the period covered by such report—
(1)
added
a statement, disaggregated by each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs, of the amount of funds under this section—
(A)
added
each such medical center requested from the Secretary; and
(B)
added
to which the Secretary provided each such medical center;
(2)
added
data, disaggregated by each such medical center, relating to how each such medical center used amounts provided by the Secretary under this section;
(3)
added
the number of covered veterans to which the Secretary provided assistance under this section;
(4)
added
the total amount of assistance the Secretary provided to covered veterans pursuant to subsection (a)(3) for communications equipment, broken down by the type of equipment provided;
(5)
added
the total amount of assistance the Secretary provided covered veterans pursuant to subsection (a)(2) for ridesharing;
(6)
added
the number of covered veterans who received such assistance; and
(7)
added
a description, for each rideshare used by a covered veteran with such assistance, of the reasons such covered veteran used such rideshare.
(8)
added
the number of covered veterans who lived or slept on Department land;
(9)
added
the amount of funds used to make available Department land for covered veterans to live and sleep;
(10)
added
the number of Department employees whose primary responsibilities involved providing services for covered veterans living or sleeping on Department land;
(11)
added
the average length of time a covered veteran lived or slept on Department land, and
(12)
added
the period of time the Secretary expects Department land will be made available for covered veterans to live and sleep.
(d)
added
Sunset— The authority under this section shall terminate on September 30, 2024.
(e)
added
Definitions— In this section, the term “covered veteran” means—
(1)
added
a homeless veteran; and
(2)
added
a veteran 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)).
removed
“(n) Consideration—Notwithstanding section 1302 of title 40, United States Code, section 8122 of title 38, United States Code, or any other provision of law, consideration for a lease made pursuant to this Act may include consideration other than money.”
Sec. 4
Modification of certain housing loan fees
added
The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking “November 14, 2031” each place it appears and inserting “May 18, 2032”.
(a)
removed
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 title 38, United States Code, to provide to a covered veteran, as the Secretary determines necessary—
(1)
removed
assistance required for the safety and survival of the veteran (such as food, shelter, clothing, blankets, and hygiene items);
(2)
removed
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)
removed
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); and
(4)
removed
such other assistance as the Secretary determines necessary.
(b)
removed
Homeless veterans on Department of Veterans Affairs land—
(1)
removed
In general— The Secretary may collaborate, to the extent practicable, with one or more organizations to manage the use of land of the Department of Veterans Affairs for homeless veterans for living and sleeping.
(2)
removed
Forms of collaboration— 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 of Veterans Affairs.
(c)
removed
Report required— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes, with respect to the period covered by such report—
(1)
removed
a statement, disaggregated by each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs, of the amount of funds under this section—
(A)
removed
each such medical center requested from the Secretary; and
(B)
removed
to which the Secretary provided each such medical center;
(2)
removed
data, disaggregated by each such medical center, relating to how each such medical center used amounts provided by the Secretary under this section;
(3)
removed
the number of covered veterans to which the Secretary provided assistance under this section;
(4)
removed
the total amount of assistance the Secretary provided to covered veterans pursuant to subsection (a)(3) for communications equipment, broken down by the type of equipment provided;
(5)
removed
the total amount of assistance the Secretary provided covered veterans pursuant to subsection (a)(2) for ridesharing;
(6)
removed
the number of covered veterans who received such assistance; and
(7)
removed
a description, for each rideshare used by a covered veteran with such assistance, of the reasons such covered veteran used such rideshare.
(d)
removed
Sunset— The authority under this section shall terminate on September 30, 2024.
(e)
removed
Definitions— In this section, the term “covered veteran” means—
(1)
removed
a homeless veteran; and
(2)
removed
a veteran 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)).