H.R. 1957

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1957 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1957

To amend title 38, United States Code, and the United States Housing 
Act of 1937, to make certain improvements to the supported housing 
program for veterans commonly known as ``HUD-VASH''.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 6, 2025

Mr. Takano (for himself, Ms. Waters, and Mr. Levin) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial 
Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a 
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, and the United States Housing 
Act of 1937, to make certain improvements to the supported housing 
program for veterans commonly known as ``HUD-VASH''.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``End Veteran Homelessness Act of 
2025''.

SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION OF STAFFING NEEDS FOR CASE MANAGERS OF THE 
VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION WITH REGARDS TO HOMELESS 
VETERANS AND VETERANS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.

(a) In General.--Section 2003(b) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Secretary'';
(2) by inserting ``, and who is determined to require case 
management,'' before ``is assigned''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) In assigning case managers and providing services under this 
subsection, the Secretary shall prioritize vulnerable homeless 
veterans, including veterans who are homeless and who have disabilities 
(including chronic mental illness, chronic substance abuse disorders, 
or chronic physical disabilities).''.
(b) Annual Report.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
coordination with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shall 
submit to Congress an annual report on the program under section 
8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
1437f(o)(19)), as amended by section 3 of this Act and commonly known 
as the ``HUD-VASH program'', which shall include, for the year covered 
by the report, each of the following, disaggregated by locality and by 
demographics (if the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines it 
appropriate):
(1) An identification of the number and demographic 
characteristics of veterans served by the HUD-VASH program.
(2) The number, qualifications, and demographics of case 
managers described in section 2003(b) of title 38, United 
States Code, as amended by subsection (a).
(3) An assessment of the standard and scope of care 
provided by such case managers to such veterans, including 
factors such as--
(A) staffing ratios;
(B) practices used in case management;
(C) frequency with which a case manager contacts a 
veteran;
(D) whether a case manager successfully connects a 
veteran to a requested resource or support; and
(E) professional licenses or certifications 
possessed by case managers.
(4) An assessment of the types of services provided by such 
case managers to such veterans.
(5) With regard to vouchers made available under the HUD-
VASH program--
(A) the number requested;
(B) the number allocated;
(C) the number used;
(D) the number assigned but unused; and
(E) the average time between such assignation and 
such use.
(6) The percentage of such veterans who used such a voucher 
and received case management from such a case manager.
(7) An identification of barriers that prevented the use of 
such vouchers by such veterans.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO HUD-VASH PROGRAM.

Section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)--
(A) in the first sentence--
(i) by striking ``subparagraph (C)'' and 
inserting ``subparagraph (B)''; and
(ii) by striking ``the amounts specified in 
subparagraph (B)'' and inserting ``amounts'';
(B) by striking the second sentence and inserting 
``In the course of administering such program--''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new clauses:
``(i) the Secretary shall provide rental 
assistance on behalf of a veteran who is--
``(I) homeless;
``(II) at risk of homelessness; or
``(III) receiving assistance under 
another housing assistance program if 
the Secretary determines a voucher 
under this paragraph is a more 
appropriate form of assistance for such 
veteran;
``(ii) subject to subparagraph (D), the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall furnish 
case management to a veteran described in 
clause (i) whom such Secretary (acting through 
an appropriately licensed or otherwise 
qualified employee of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs or an entity that participates 
in a centralized or coordinated entry system 
(as defined in section 578.3 of title 24, Code 
of Federal Regulations, or successor 
regulation) of the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development) determines requires case 
management;
``(iii) in the case of a veteran described 
in clause (ii) who refuses case management--
``(I) the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall--
``(aa) make recurring 
attempts to engage and build a 
relationship with the veteran, 
in order to provide such case 
management to the veteran, 
solicit feedback from the 
veteran, and promote the 
veteran's housing stability and 
opportunities to access health 
care and other benefits under 
laws administered by the 
Secretary; and
``(bb) provide case 
management to such veteran if 
the veteran subsequently 
requests case management;
``(II) the Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development may not revoke such 
rental assistance on behalf of the 
veteran solely on the basis of such 
refusal;
``(III) a public housing authority 
may not revoke rental assistance 
provided by such authority on behalf of 
the veteran solely on the basis of such 
refusal; and
``(IV) the owner may not evict or 
otherwise penalize the veteran solely 
on the basis of such refusal; and
``(iv) in the case of a veteran described 
in clause (ii) whose case management is 
suspended for the health and safety of the 
veteran or the case manager, the owner may not 
evict or otherwise penalize the veteran solely 
on the basis of such suspension.'';
(2) by striking subparagraph (B);
(3) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as 
subparagraphs (B) and (E), respectively; and
(4) by inserting after subparagraph (B), as redesignated 
the following new subparagraphs:
``(C) Veterans who do not require case 
management.--A voucher made available under this 
paragraph may be used for a homeless veteran, or a 
veteran at risk of homelessness, whom the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs determines does not require case 
management if such use is included in the notice of 
operating requirements of such program.
``(D) Administrative fees.--There is authorized to 
be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for 
administrative fee payments to public housing agencies 
for costs of administering vouchers under this 
paragraph and other eligible expenses, as shall be 
defined by notice issued by the Secretary, to 
facilitate the leasing of the vouchers, such as 
security deposit assistance and other costs related to 
retention and support of participating owners.''.

SEC. 4. GAO REPORT ON HOMELESS VETERANS.

(a) Report Required.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 
containing the following, disaggregated by demographics (if the 
Comptroller General determines it appropriate)--
(1) a description of the demographic characteristics of 
veterans served by the HUD-VASH program, disaggregated by 
whether the veteran is receiving services from a case manager 
described in section 2003(b) of title 38, United States Code, 
as amended by section 2 of this Act;
(2) the number, qualifications, and demographic 
characteristics of such case managers;
(3) an assessment of the types and quality of case 
management services provided to veterans by case managers 
described in section 2003(b) of title 38, United States Code, 
as amended by section 2, disaggregated by locality;
(4) an assessment of recruitment and retention of such case 
managers, disaggregated by locality and demographic 
characteristics; and
(5) metrics regarding housing stability and retention for 
veterans participating in Federal housing assistance programs, 
including veterans who have participated in more than one such 
program and reasons why veterans ceased to so participate.
(b) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the following:
(1) The Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
Representatives.
(2) The Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate.
(3) The Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
Representatives.
(4) The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of 
the Senate.
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