§7721. Purpose; definitions

(a) The Congress declares that the outreach services program authorized by this subchapter is for the purpose of ensuring that all veterans (especially those who have been recently discharged or released from active military, naval, or air service and those who are eligible for readjustment or other benefits and services under laws administered by the Department) are provided timely and appropriate assistance to aid and encourage them in applying for and obtaining such benefits and services in order that they may achieve a rapid social and economic readjustment to civilian life and obtain a higher standard of living for themselves and their dependents. The Congress further declares that the outreach services program authorized by this subchapter is for the purpose of charging the Department with the affirmative duty of seeking out eligible veterans and eligible dependents and providing them with such services.

(b) For the purposes of this subchapter-

(1) the term "other governmental programs" includes all programs under State or local laws as well as all programs under Federal law other than those authorized by this title; and

(2) the term "eligible dependent" means an "eligible person" as defined in section 3501(a)(1) of this title.

(Added Pub. L. 102–83, §2(b), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 400 .)

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 240 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102–83, §2(a).

Reports on Activities of Department of Veterans Affairs To Assist Homeless Veterans

Pub. L. 103–446, title X, §1001(a), (b), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4678 , 4679, provided that:

"(a) Annual Report.-(1) Not later than April 15 of each year, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs during the year preceding the report under programs of the Department for the provision of assistance to homeless veterans.

"(2) The report shall-

"(A) set forth the number of homeless veterans provided assistance under those programs;

"(B) describe the cost to the Department of providing such assistance under those programs; and

"(C) provide any other information on those programs and on the provision of such assistance that the Secretary considers appropriate.

"(b) Bi-Annual Requirement.-The Secretary shall include in the report submitted under subsection (a)(1) in 1995, and every two years thereafter, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the programs of the Department in providing assistance to homeless veterans."

Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Service Programs

Pub. L. 102–590, §§2–4, Nov. 10, 1992, 106 Stat. 5136–5139 , as amended by Pub. L. 103–446, title X, §1003, Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4679 , provided that:

"SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM.

"(a) In General.-Subject to the availability of appropriations provided for under section 12 [set out below], the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish and operate, through September 30, 1995, a pilot program under this Act [see Short Title of 1992 Amendment note set out under section 101 of this title] to expand and improve the provision of benefits and services by the Department of Veterans Affairs to homeless veterans.

"(b) Comprehensive Centers.-The pilot program shall include the establishment of no more than eight demonstration programs (in addition to any existing programs providing similar services) at sites under the jurisdiction of the Secretary to be centers for the provision of comprehensive services to homeless veterans. The services to be provided at each site shall include a comprehensive and coordinated array of those specialized services which may be provided under existing law.

"(c) Placement of VBA Employees.-The pilot program shall also include the services of such employees of the Veterans Benefits Administration as the Secretary determines appropriate at-

"(1) no more than 45 sites at which the Secretary provides services to homeless chronically mentally ill veterans pursuant to section 115 of Public Law 100–322 (38 U.S.C. 1712 note);

"(2) no more than 26 sites at which the Secretary furnishes domiciliary care to homeless veterans pursuant to section 801(b) of Public Law 100–628 (102 Stat. 3257);

"(3) no more than 12 centers which provide readjustment counseling services under section 1712A of title 38, United States Code; and

"(4) each of the demonstration sites established under subsection (b).

"SEC. 3. GRANTS.

"(a) Authority To Make Grants.-Subject to the availability of appropriations provided for under section 12 [set out below], the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, during fiscal years 1993, 1994, and 1995, shall make grants to assist eligible entities in establishing new programs to furnish outreach, rehabilitative services, vocational counseling and training, and transitional housing assistance to homeless veterans.

"(b) Criteria for Award of Grants.-The Secretary shall establish criteria and requirements for the award of a grant under this section, including criteria for entities eligible to receive such grants. The Secretary shall publish such criteria and requirements in the Federal Register not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 10, 1992]. In developing such criteria and requirements, the Secretary shall consult with organizations with experience in the area of providing service to homeless veterans and to the maximum extent possible shall take into account the findings of the assessment of the Secretary under section 107 of the Veterans' Medical Programs Amendments of 1992 [Pub. L. 102–405, 38 U.S.C. 527 note]. The criteria established under this section shall include the following:

"(1) Specification as to the kinds of projects for which such grant support is available, which shall include (A) expansion, remodeling, or alteration of existing buildings, or acquisition of facilities, for use as service centers, transitional housing, or other facilities to serve homeless veterans, and (B) procurement of vans for use in outreach to, and transportation for, homeless veterans to carry out the purposes set forth in subsection (a).

"(2) Specification as to the number of projects for which grant support is available, which shall include provision for no more than 25 service centers and no more than 20 programs which incorporate the procurement of vans as described in paragraph (1).

"(3) Appropriate criteria for the staffing for the provision of the services for which a grant under this section is furnished.

"(4) Provisions to ensure that the award of grants under this section (A) shall not result in duplication of ongoing services, and (B) to the maximum extent practicable, shall reflect appropriate geographic dispersion and an appropriate balance between urban and nonurban locations.

"(5) Provisions to ensure that an entity receiving a grant shall meet fire and safety requirements established by the Secretary, which shall include such State and community requirements that may apply, but fire and safety requirements applicable to buildings of the Federal Government shall not apply to real property to be used by a grantee in carrying out the grant.

"(6) Specifications as to the means by which an entity receiving a grant may contribute in-kind services to the start-up costs of any project for which support is sought and the methodology for assigning a cost to that contribution for purposes of subsection (c).

"(c) Funding Limitations.-A grant under this section may not be used to support operational costs. The amount of a grant under this section may not exceed 65 percent of the estimated cost of the expansion, remodeling, alteration, acquisition, or procurement provided for under this section.

"(d) Eligible Entities.-The Secretary may not make a grant under this section unless the applicant for the grant-

"(1) is a public or nonprofit private entity with the capacity (as determined by the Secretary) to effectively administer a grant under this section;

"(2) has demonstrated that adequate financial support will be available to carry out the project for which the grant has been sought consistent with the plans, specifications, and schedule submitted by the applicant; and

"(3) has agreed to meet the applicable criteria and requirements established under subsection (b) (and the Secretary has determined that the applicant has demonstrated the capacity to meet those criteria and requirements).

"(e) Application Requirement.-An entity described in subsection (d) desiring to receive assistance under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application. The application shall set forth-

"(1) the amount of the grant requested with respect to a project;

"(2) a description of the site for such project;

"(3) plans, specifications, and the schedule for implementation of such project in accordance with requirements prescribed by the Secretary under subsection (b); and

"(4) reasonable assurance that upon completion of the work for which assistance is sought, the program will become operational and the facilities will be used principally to provide to veterans the services for which the project was designed, and that not more than 25 percent of the services provided will serve clients who are not receiving such services as veterans.

"(f) Program Requirements.-The Secretary may not make a grant to an applicant under this section unless the applicant, in the application for the grant, agrees to each of the following requirements:

"(1) To provide the services for which the grant is furnished at locations accessible to homeless veterans.

"(2) To maintain referral networks for, and aid homeless veterans in, establishing eligibility for assistance, and obtaining services, under available entitlement and assistance programs.

"(3) To ensure the confidentiality of records maintained on homeless veterans receiving services under the grant.

"(4) To establish such procedures for fiscal control and fund accounting as may be necessary to ensure proper disbursement and accounting with respect to the grant and to such payments as may be made under section 4.

"(5) To seek to employ homeless veterans and formerly homeless veterans in positions created for purposes of the grant for which those veterans are qualified.

"(g) Service Center Requirements.-In addition to criteria established under subsection (b), the Secretary shall, in the case of an application for a grant for a service center for homeless veterans, require that-

"(1) such center shall provide services to homeless veterans during such hours as the Secretary may specify and shall be open to such veterans on an as-needed, unscheduled basis;

"(2) space at such center will be made available, as mutually agreeable, for use by staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Labor, and other appropriate agencies and organizations in assisting homeless veterans served by such center;

"(3) such center shall be equipped and staffed to provide, or to assist in providing, health care, mental health services, hygiene facilities, benefits and employment counseling, meals, transportation assistance, and such other services as the Secretary determines necessary; and

"(4) such center may be equipped and staffed to provide, or to assist in providing, job training and job placement services (including job readiness, job counseling, and literacy and skills training), as well as any outreach and case management services that may be necessary to carry out this paragraph.

"SEC. 4. PER DIEM PAYMENTS.

"(a) Per Diem Payments for Furnishing Services To Homeless Veterans.-Subject to the availability of appropriations provided for under section 12 [set out below], the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, pursuant to such criteria as the Secretary shall prescribe, shall provide to a recipient of a grant under section 3 (or an entity eligible to receive a grant under section 3 which after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 10, 1992] establishes a program which the Secretary determines carries out the purposes described in section 3) per diem payments at such rates as the Secretary shall prescribe by regulation for services furnished to any homeless veteran-

"(1) whom the Secretary has referred to the grant recipient (or entity eligible for such a grant); or

"(2) for whom the Secretary has authorized the provision of services.

In a case in which the Secretary has authorized the provision of services, per diem payments may be paid retroactively for services provided not more than 3 days before the authorization was provided.

"(b) Limitation.-The amount of per diem payments made with respect to a veteran under this section may not exceed one-half of the cost to the grant recipient (or other eligible entity) of providing such service.

"(c) In-Kind Assistance.-In lieu of per diem payments under this section, the Secretary may, with the approval of the grant recipient, provide in-kind assistance (through the services of Department employees and the use of other Department resources) to a grant recipient (or entity eligible for such a grant) under section 3.

"(d) Inspections.-The Secretary may inspect any facility of an entity eligible for payments under subsection (a) at such times as the Secretary considers necessary. No per diem payment may be made to an entity under this section unless the facilities of that entity meet such standards as the Secretary shall prescribe."

Annual Reports to Congressional Committees

Pub. L. 102–590, §10, Nov. 10, 1992, 106 Stat. 5141 , directed Secretary of Veterans Affairs, not later than May 1 of each of 1994, 1995, and 1996, to submit to Committees on Veterans' Affairs of Senate and House of Representatives a report on implementation of Pub. L. 102–590, including information on (1) number of veterans assisted, (2) services provided, and (3) Secretary's analysis of operational and clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of programs established under, or with assistance provided by, Pub. L. 102–590, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 103–446, title X, §1001(c), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4679 .

Authorization of Appropriations

Pub. L. 102–590, §12, Nov. 10, 1992, 106 Stat. 5142 , as amended by Pub. L. 103–446, title X, §1004, Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4679 , provided that: "There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act [see Short Title of 1992 Amendment note set out under section 101 of this title] (other than section 8 [amending section 3735 of this title]) $48,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1993, 1994, and 1995. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to diminish funds for, continuation of, or expansion of existing programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to serve veterans."