---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 2034"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "2034"
heading: "Coordination with other agencies and organizations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/2034"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 20 — Benefits for Homeless Veterans"
  - "Subchapter IV — Treatment and Rehabilitation for Seriously Mentally Ill and Homeless Veterans"
---

# §2034. Coordination with other agencies and organizations

- (a) In assisting [homeless veterans](/usc/38/2002.md?p=a-1), the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall coordinate with, and may provide services authorized under this title in conjunction with, [State](/usc/38/101.md?p=20) and local governments, other appropriate [departments](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) and agencies of the Federal Government, and nongovernmental organizations.
- (b)
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall require the director of each medical center or the director of each regional benefits office to make an annual assessment of the needs of [homeless veterans](/usc/38/2002.md?p=a-1) living within the area served by the medical center or regional office, as the case may be.
  - (2) Each such assessment shall be made in coordination with representatives of [State](/usc/38/101.md?p=20) and local governments, other appropriate [departments](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) and agencies of the Federal Government, and nongovernmental organizations that have experience working with homeless persons in that area.
  - (3) Each such assessment shall identify the needs of [homeless veterans](/usc/38/2002.md?p=a-1) with respect to the following:
    - (A) Health care.
    - (B) Education and training.
    - (C) Employment.
    - (D) Shelter.
    - (E) Counseling.
    - (F) Outreach services.
  - (4) Each assessment shall also indicate the extent to which the needs referred to in [paragraph (3)](#b-3) are being met adequately by the programs of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), of other [departments](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) and agencies of the Federal Government, of [State](/usc/38/101.md?p=20) and local governments, and of nongovernmental organizations.
  - (5) Each assessment shall be carried out in accordance with uniform procedures and guidelines prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1).
  - (6) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall review each annual assessment under this subsection and shall consolidate the findings and conclusions of each such assessment into the next annual report submitted to Congress under [section 2065 of this title](/usc/38/2065.md).
- (c) In furtherance of [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall require the director of each medical center and the director of each regional benefits office, in coordination with representatives of [State](/usc/38/101.md?p=20) and local governments, other Federal officials, and nongovernmental organizations that have experience working with homeless persons in the areas served by such facility or office, to—
  - (1) develop a list of all public and private programs that provide assistance to homeless persons or [homeless veterans](/usc/38/2002.md?p=a-1) in the area concerned, together with a description of the services offered by those programs;
  - (2) seek to encourage the development by the representatives of such entities, in coordination with the director, of a plan to coordinate among such public and private programs the provision of services to [homeless veterans](/usc/38/2002.md?p=a-1);
  - (3) take appropriate action to meet, to the maximum extent practicable through existing programs and available resources, the needs of [homeless veterans](/usc/38/2002.md?p=a-1) that are identified in the assessment conducted under [subsection (b)](#b); and
  - (4) attempt to inform [homeless veterans](/usc/38/2002.md?p=a-1) whose needs the director cannot meet under [paragraph (3)](#c-3) of the services available to such [veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) within the area served by such center or office.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 105–114, title II, § 202(a), Nov. 21, 1997, 111 Stat. 2286, § 1774; renumbered § 2034 and amended Pub. L. 107–95, §§ 5(b)(1), 6(b), Dec. 21, 2001, 115 Stat. 918, 919.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2001—Pub. L. 107–95, § 5(b)(1), renumbered section 1774 of this title as this section.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 107–95, § 6(b)(1), inserted “annual” after “to make an”.

Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 107–95, § 6(b)(2), added par. (6).