--- kind: "section" citation: "38 U.S.C. § 2022" title: "38" title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits" number: "2022" heading: "Coordination of outreach services for veterans at risk of homelessness" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/2022" units: - "Part II — General Benefits" - "Chapter 20 — Benefits for Homeless Veterans" - "Subchapter III — Training and Outreach" --- # §2022. Coordination of outreach services for veterans at risk of homelessness - (a) **Outreach Plan.—** The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), acting through the Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) for Health, shall provide for appropriate officials of the Mental Health Service and the Readjustment Counseling Service of the [Veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) Health Administration to develop a coordinated plan for joint outreach by the two Services to [veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) at risk of homelessness, including particularly [veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) who are being discharged or released from institutions after inpatient psychiatric care, substance abuse treatment, or imprisonment. - (b) **Matters To Be Included.—** The outreach plan under [subsection (a)](#a) shall include the following: - (1) Strategies to identify and collaborate with non-[Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) entities used by [veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) who have not traditionally used [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) services to further outreach efforts. - (2) Strategies to ensure that mentoring programs, recovery support groups, and other appropriate support networks are optimally available to [veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1). - (3) Appropriate programs or referrals to family support programs. - (4) Means to increase access to case management services. - (5) Plans for making additional employment services accessible to [veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1). - (6) Appropriate referral sources for mental health and substance abuse services. - (c) **Cooperative Relationships.—** The outreach plan under [subsection (a)](#a) shall identify strategies for the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) to enter into formal cooperative relationships with entities outside the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) to facilitate making services and resources optimally available to [veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1). - (d) **Review of Plan.—** The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall submit the outreach plan under [subsection (a)](#a) to the Advisory Committee on [Homeless Veterans](/usc/38/2002.md?p=a-1) for its review and consultation. - (e) **Outreach Program.—** - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall carry out an outreach program to provide information to [homeless veterans](/usc/38/2002.md?p=a-1) and [veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) at risk of homelessness. The program shall include at a minimum— - (A) provision of information about benefits available to [eligible veterans](/usc/38/3452.md?p=a-1) from the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1); and - (B) contact information for local [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) facilities, including medical facilities, regional offices, and [veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) centers. - (2) In developing and carrying out the program under [paragraph (1)](#e-1), the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall, to the extent practicable, consult with appropriate public and private organizations, including the Bureau of Prisons, [State](/usc/38/101.md?p=20) social service agencies, the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) of Defense, and mental health, [veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1), and homeless advocates— - (A) for assistance in identifying and contacting [veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) who are homeless or at risk of homelessness; - (B) to coordinate appropriate outreach activities with those organizations; and - (C) to coordinate services provided to [veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) with services provided by those organizations. - (f) **Reports.—** - (1) Not later than October 1, 2002, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall submit to the Committees on [Veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1)’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives an initial report that contains an evaluation of outreach activities carried out by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) with respect to [homeless veterans](/usc/38/2002.md?p=a-1), including outreach regarding clinical issues and other benefits administered under this title. The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall conduct the evaluation in consultation with the Under [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) for Benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs central office official responsible for the administration of the Readjustment Counseling Service, the Director of [Homeless Veterans](/usc/38/2002.md?p=a-1) Programs, and the Department of Veterans Affairs central office official responsible for the administration of the Mental Health Strategic Health Care Group. - (2) Not later than December 31, 2005, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall submit to the committees referred to in [paragraph (1)](#f-1) an interim report on outreach activities carried out by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) with respect to [homeless veterans](/usc/38/2002.md?p=a-1). The report shall include the following: - (A) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1)’s outreach plan under [subsection (a)](#a), including goals and time lines for implementation of the plan for particular facilities and service networks. - (B) A description of the implementation and operation of the outreach program under [subsection (e)](#e). - (C) A description of the implementation and operation of the program under [section 2023 of this title](/usc/38/2023.md). - (3) Not later than July 1, 2007, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall submit to the committees referred to in [paragraph (1)](#f-1) a final report on outreach activities carried out by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) with respect to [homeless veterans](/usc/38/2002.md?p=a-1). The report shall include the following: - (A) An evaluation of the effectiveness of the outreach plan under [subsection (a)](#a). - (B) An evaluation of the effectiveness of the outreach program under [subsection (e)](#e). - (C) An evaluation of the effectiveness of the demonstration program under [section 2023 of this title](/usc/38/2023.md). - (D) Recommendations, if any, regarding an extension or modification of such outreach plan, such outreach program, and such demonstration program. ## Source credit (Added Pub. L. 107–95, § 5(a)(1), Dec. 21, 2001, 115 Stat. 910; amended Pub. L. 110–387, title VI, § 602(d)(3), Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4132.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Prior Provisions A prior section 2022 was renumbered section 4302 of this title and subsequently omitted in the general amendment of chapter 43 of this title by Pub. L. 103–353, § 2(a), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3150. ### Amendments 2008—Subsec. (f)(2)(C). Pub. L. 110–387 struck out “demonstration” before “program”.