§3035o. Housing demonstration programs

(a) Housing ombudsman demonstration programs

(1) Grants

The Assistant Secretary shall award grants to eligible agencies to establish housing ombudsman programs.

(2) Use of grants

An eligible agency shall use a grant awarded under paragraph (1) to-

(A) provide the services described in subparagraph (B) through-

(i) professional and volunteer staff to older individuals who are-

(I) participating in federally assisted and other publicly assisted housing programs; or

(II) seeking Federal, State, and local housing programs; and

(ii)(I) the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program under section 3027(a)(12) of this title or section 3058g of this title;

(II) a legal services or assistance organization or through an organization that provides both legal and other social services;

(III) a public or not-for-profit social services agency; or

(IV) an agency or organization concerned with housing issues but not responsible for publicly assisted housing.

(B) establish a housing ombudsman program that provides information, advice, and advocacy services including-

(i) direct assistance, or referral to services, to resolve complaints or problems;

(ii) provision of information regarding available housing programs, eligibility, requirements, and application processes;

(iii) counseling or assistance with financial, social, familial, or other related matters that may affect or be influenced by housing problems;

(iv) advocacy related to promoting-

(I) the rights of the older individuals who are residents in publicly assisted housing programs; and

(II) the quality and suitability of housing in the programs; and

(v) assistance with problems related to housing regarding-

(I) threats of eviction or eviction notices;

(II) older buildings;

(III) functional impairments as the impairments relate to housing;

(IV) unlawful discrimination;

(V) regulations of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Farmers Home Administration;

(VI) disability issues;

(VII) intimidation, harassment, or arbitrary management rules;

(VIII) grievance procedures;

(IX) certification and recertification related to programs of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Farmers Home Administration; and

(X) issues related to transfer from one project or program to another; ¹

(3) Award of grants

The Assistant Secretary shall award grants under paragraph (1) to agencies in rural, urban, and other settings.

(4) Application

To be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph (1), an agency shall submit an application to the Assistant Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may require, including, at a minimum-

(A) an assurance that the agency will conduct training of professional and volunteer staff who will provide services through the housing ombudsman demonstration program;

(B) in the case of an application submitted by an area agency on aging, an endorsement of the program by the State agency serving the State in which the program will be established, and an assurance by the State agency that the agency will work with the area agency in carrying out the program; and

(C) a plan to involve in the demonstration program the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Administrator of the Farmers Home Administration, any individual or entity described in paragraph (2)(A) through which the agency intends to provide the services, and other agencies involved in publicly assisted housing programs.

(5) Eligible agencies

Agencies eligible to receive grants under this section shall include-

(A) State agencies;

(B) area agencies on aging; and

(C) other nonprofit entities, including providers of services under the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman program and the elder rights and legal assistance development program described in subparts II and IV, respectively, of part A of subchapter XI of this chapter.

(b) Foreclosure and eviction assistance and relief services demonstration programs

(1) Grants

The Assistant Secretary shall make grants to States to carry out demonstration programs to develop methods or implement laws-

(A) to prevent or delay the foreclosure on housing owned and occupied by older individuals or the eviction of older individuals from housing the individuals rent;

(B) to obtain alternative housing as a result of such foreclosure or eviction; and

(C) to assist older individuals to understand the rights and obligations of the individuals under laws relating to housing ownership and occupancy.

(2) Notification process

A State that receives a grant under paragraph (1) shall establish methods, including a notification process-

(A) to assist older individuals who are incapable of, or have difficulty in, understanding the circumstances and consequences of foreclosure on or eviction from housing the individuals occupy; and

(B) to coordinate the program for which such grant is received with the activities of tenant organizations, tenant-landlord mediation organizations, public housing entities, and area agencies on aging, to provide more effectively assistance or referral to services to relocate or prevent eviction of older individuals from housing the individuals occupy.

(c) Evaluations and reports

(1) Agencies

Each agency or State that receives a grant under subsection (a) or (b) of this section to establish a demonstration program shall, not later than 3 months after the end of the period for which the grant is awarded-

(A) evaluate the effectiveness of the program; and

(B) submit a report containing the evaluation to the Assistant Secretary.

(2) Assistant Secretary

The Assistant Secretary shall, not later than 6 months after the end of the period for which the Assistant Secretary awards a grant under subsection (a) or (b) of this section-

(A) evaluate the effectiveness of each demonstration program that receives the grant; and

(B) submit a report containing the evaluation to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate.

(Pub. L. 89–73, title IV, §429G, as added Pub. L. 102–375, title IV, §416, Sept. 30, 1992, 106 Stat. 1257 ; amended Pub. L. 103–171, §§2(17), 3(a)(11), (13), Dec. 2, 1993, 107 Stat. 1989 , 1990.)

Amendments

1993-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–171, §3(a)(13), substituted "Assistant Secretary" for "Commissioner" wherever appearing.

Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(v)(X). Pub. L. 103–171, §2(17), struck out "and" at end.

Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 103–171, §3(a)(11), (13), substituted "Assistant Secretary" for "Commissioner" wherever appearing in text and in heading for par. (2) of subsec. (c).

Effective Date

Section inapplicable with respect to fiscal year 1992, see section 905(b)(3) of Pub. L. 102–375, set out as an Effective Date of 1992 Amendment note under section 3001 of this title.

¹ So in original. The semicolon probably should be a period.