Housing Assistance for Veterans Act of 2013 or HAVEN Act - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish a pilot program to award grants to nonprofit organizations that primarily serve veterans or low-income individuals. Requires such grants to be used to rehabilitate and modify the primary residence of disabled or low-income veterans (at a specified limited or no cost to such veterans). Limits grant amounts to $1 million per organization. Requires the Secretary to direct the oversight of grant fund use. Requires a minimum of 50% matching funds by participating organizations.
Requires the Inspector General of HUD to review and report to the Chairmen of specified congressional committees on: (1) the use of appropriated funds by HUD and by grantees under the pilot program, and (2) oversight and accountability of such grantees.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3743 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3743
To establish a pilot program to authorize the Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development to make grants to nonprofit organizations to
rehabilitate and modify homes of disabled and low-income veterans.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 12, 2013
Mr. Al Green of Texas (for himself, Mr. Stivers, Mr. Roskam, Mr.
Turner, Mr. Clay, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Langevin, and Mr. Michaud)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a pilot program to authorize the Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development to make grants to nonprofit organizations to
rehabilitate and modify homes of disabled and low-income veterans.
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 ``Housing Assistance for Veterans Act
of 2013'' or the ``HAVEN Act''.
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM TO REHABILITATE AND MODIFY HOMES OF DISABLED AND
LOW-INCOME VETERANS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Disabled.--The term ``disabled'' means an individual
with a disability, as defined by section 12102 of title 42,
United States Code.
(2) Eligible veteran.--The term ``eligible veteran'' means
a disabled or low-income veteran.
(3) Energy efficient features or equipment.--The term
``energy efficient features or equipment'' means features of,
or equipment in, a primary residence that help reduce the
amount of electricity used to heat, cool, or ventilate such
residence, including insulation, weatherstripping, air sealing,
heating system repairs, duct sealing, or other measures.
(4) Low-income veteran.--The term ``low-income veteran''
means a veteran whose income does not exceed 80 percent of the
median income for an area, as determined by the Secretary.
(5) Nonprofit organization.--The term ``nonprofit
organization'' means an organization that is--
(A) described in section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
(B) exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such
Code.
(6) Primary residence.--
(A) In general.--The term ``primary residence''
means a single family house, a duplex, or a unit within
a multiple-dwelling structure that is the principal
dwelling of an eligible veteran and is owned by such
veteran or a family member of such veteran.
(B) Family member defined.--For purposes of this
paragraph, the term ``family member'' includes--
(i) a spouse, child, grandchild, parent, or
sibling;
(ii) a spouse of such a child, grandchild,
parent, or sibling; or
(iii) any individual related by blood or
affinity whose close association with a veteran
is the equivalent of a family relationship.
(7) Qualified organization.--The term ``qualified
organization'' means a nonprofit organization that provides
nationwide or statewide programs that primarily serve veterans
or low-income individuals.
(8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development.
(9) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given
the term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
(10) Veterans service organization.--The term ``veterans
service organization'' means any organization recognized by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of
veterans under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.
(b) Establishment of a Pilot Program.--
(1) Grant.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a
pilot program to award grants to qualified
organizations to rehabilitate and modify the primary
residence of eligible veterans.
(B) Coordination.--The Secretary shall work in
conjunction with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
establish and oversee the pilot program and to ensure
that such program meets the needs of eligible veterans.
(C) Maximum grant.--A grant award under the pilot
program to any one qualified organization shall not
exceed $1,000,000 in any one fiscal year, and such an
award shall remain available until expended by such
organization.
(2) Application.--
(A) In general.--Each qualified organization that
desires a grant under the pilot program shall submit an
application to the Secretary at such time, in such
manner, and, in addition to the information required
under subparagraph (B), accompanied by such information
as the Secretary may reasonably require.
(B) Contents.--Each application submitted under
subparagraph (A) shall include--
(i) a plan of action detailing outreach
initiatives;
(ii) the approximate number of veterans the
qualified organization intends to serve using
grant funds;
(iii) a description of the type of work
that will be conducted, such as interior home
modifications, energy efficiency improvements,
and other similar categories of work; and
(iv) a plan for working with the Department
of Veterans Affairs and veterans service
organizations to identify veterans who are not
eligible for programs under chapter 21 of title
38, United States Code, and meet their needs.
(C) Preferences.--In awarding grants under the
pilot program, the Secretary shall give preference to a
qualified organization--
(i) with experience in providing housing
rehabilitation and modification services for
disabled veterans; or
(ii) that proposes to provide housing
rehabilitation and modification services for
eligible veterans who live in rural, including
tribal, areas (the Secretary, through
regulations, shall define the term ``rural
areas'').
(3) Criteria.--In order to receive a grant award under the
pilot program, a qualified organization shall meet the
following criteria:
(A) Demonstrate expertise in providing housing
rehabilitation and modification services for disabled
or low-income individuals for the purpose of making the
homes of such individuals accessible, functional, and
safe for such individuals.
(B) Have established outreach initiatives that--
(i) would engage eligible veterans and
veterans service organizations in projects
utilizing grant funds under the pilot program;
(ii) ensure veterans who are disabled
receive preference in selection for assistance
under this program; and
(iii) identify eligible veterans and their
families and enlist veterans involved in
skilled trades, such as carpentry, roofing,
plumbing, or HVAC work.
(C) Have an established nationwide or statewide
network of affiliates that are--
(i) nonprofit organizations; and
(ii) able to provide housing rehabilitation
and modification services for eligible
veterans.
(D) Have experience in successfully carrying out
the accountability and reporting requirements involved
in the proper administration of grant funds, including
funds provided by private entities or Federal, State,
or local government entities.
(4) Use of funds.--A grant award under the pilot program
shall be used--
(A) to modify and rehabilitate the primary
residence of an eligible veteran, and may include--
(i) installing wheelchair ramps, widening
exterior and interior doors, reconfigurating
and re-equipping bathrooms (which includes
installing new fixtures and grab bars),
removing doorway thresholds, installing special
lighting, adding additional electrical outlets
and electrical service, and installing
appropriate floor coverings to--
(I) accommodate the functional
limitations that result from having a
disability; or
(II) if such residence does not
have modifications necessary to reduce
the chances that an elderly, but not
disabled person, will fall in their
home, reduce the risks of such an
elderly person from falling;
(ii) rehabilitating such residence that is
in a state of interior or exterior disrepair;
and
(iii) installing energy efficient features
or equipment if--
(I) an eligible veteran's monthly
utility costs for such residence is
more than 5 percent of such veteran's
monthly income; and
(II) an energy audit of such
residence indicates that the
installation of energy efficient
features or equipment will reduce such
costs by 10 percent or more; and
(B) in connection with modification and
rehabilitation services provided under the pilot
program, to provide technical, administrative, and
training support to an affiliate of a qualified
organization receiving a grant under such pilot
program.
(5) Oversight.--The Secretary shall direct the oversight of
the grant funds for the pilot program so that such funds are
used efficiently until expended to fulfill the purpose of
addressing the adaptive housing needs of eligible veterans.
(6) Matching funds.--
(A) In general.--A qualified organization receiving
a grant under the pilot program shall contribute
towards the housing modification and rehabilitation
services provided to eligible veterans an amount equal
to not less than 50 percent of the grant award received
by such organization.
(B) In-kind contributions.--In order to meet the
requirement under subparagraph (A), such organization
may arrange for in-kind contributions.
(7) Limitation cost to the veterans.--A qualified
organization receiving a grant under the pilot program shall
modify or rehabilitate the primary residence of an eligible
veteran at no cost to such veteran (including application fees)
or at a cost such that such veteran pays no more than 30
percent of his or her income in housing costs during any month.
(8) Reports.--
(A) Annual report.--The Secretary shall submit to
Congress, on an annual basis, a report that provides,
with respect to the year for which such report is
written--
(i) the number of eligible veterans
provided assistance under the pilot program;
(ii) the socioeconomic characteristics of
such veterans, including their gender, age,
race, and ethnicity;
(iii) the total number, types, and
locations of entities contracted under such
program to administer the grant funding;
(iv) the amount of matching funds and in-
kind contributions raised with each grant;
(v) a description of the housing
rehabilitation and modification services
provided, costs saved, and actions taken under
such program;
(vi) a description of the outreach
initiatives implemented by the Secretary to
educate the general public and eligible
entities about such program;
(vii) a description of the outreach
initiatives instituted by grant recipients to
engage eligible veterans and veteran service
organizations in projects utilizing grant funds
under such program;
(viii) a description of the outreach
initiatives instituted by grant recipients to
identify eligible veterans and their families;
and
(ix) any other information that the
Secretary considers relevant in assessing such
program.
(B) Final report.--Not later than 6 months after
the completion of the pilot program, the Secretary
shall submit to Congress a report that provides such
information that the Secretary considers relevant in
assessing the pilot program.
(C) Inspector general report.--Not later than March
31, 2019, the Inspector General of the Department of
Housing and Urban Development shall submit to the
Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Committee on
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and
the Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives a report containing a review of--
(i) the use of appropriated funds by the
Secretary and by grantees under the pilot
program; and
(ii) oversight and accountability of
grantees under the pilot program.
(9) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated for carrying out this section $4,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
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