Sec. 505. Establishment of pilot grant program for homeless veterans
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In addition to any other programs carried out by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs regarding providing housing to homeless veterans, not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall commence a pilot grant program to assess the feasibility and advisability of awarding grants to eligible entities to purchase and renovate abandoned homes for homeless veterans. In carrying out the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to purchase and renovate abandoned homes for homeless veterans. The amount of a single grant awarded under paragraph
(1)shall not exceed $1,000,000. The Secretary may award to an eligible entity more than one grant under paragraph (1). The Secretary may award a grant under subsection (b)(1) to any of the following: A veterans service agency. A veterans service organization. Homeless organizations. Any other nongovernmental organization. Any eligible entity seeking a grant under subsection (b)(1) shall submit to the Secretary an application therefore in such form and in such manner as the Secretary considers appropriate. Subject to subparagraph (B), in accordance with regulations the Secretary shall prescribe, the Secretary shall give priority in the awarding of grants under subsection (b)(1) to eligible entities who serve communities that the Secretary determines have the greatest need of homeless services. The Secretary may give priority in the awarding of grants under subsection (b)(1) to achieve a fair distribution, as determined by the Secretary, among homeless veterans in different geographical regions. In awarding a grant under subsection (b)(1) to an eligible entity in a location determined pursuant to subparagraphs
(A)and (B), the Secretary shall give preference to eligible entities that are entered into an agreement with the Secretary under section 2041 of title 38, United States Code. Except as provided by subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall award a grant under subsection (b)(1) without regard to whether the eligible entity has received any other grant or benefit from the Federal Government relating to providing housing to homeless veterans. A grantee may use amounts of a grant awarded to the grantee under subsection (b)(1) to purchase or renovate abandoned homes, including homes that have been foreclosed. Not more than $300,000 of the amount of a grant awarded under subsection (b)(1) may be used for the purchase of a single home. The United States shall not have any ownership interest in a home that is purchased by a grantee using amounts of a grant awarded under subsection (b)(1). Each grantee shall ensure that, beginning one year after the date on which a veteran begins to reside in a home purchased or renovated by the grantee using a grant awarded under subsection (b)(1), the veteran makes monthly payments to the grantee in an amount determined appropriate by the grantee that is not less than 85 percent of the fair market rent for such home. Each grantee shall determine whether payments made by a veteran under subparagraph
(B)shall be treated as rent or as a mortgage for the home for which the veteran is making such payments. The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shall determine the requirements for such payments. Each grantee shall pay to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs not less than 80 percent of each payment received under subparagraph (B). The Secretary may conduct an audit of any grantee to ensure that the grantee carries out this paragraph. There is established in the Treasury a fund to be known as the Veterans Homelessness Grant Fund (in this paragraph referred to as the Fund ). The Secretary shall deposit into the Fund the payments collected by the Secretary under paragraph (3)(D). Amounts deposited into the Fund pursuant to subparagraph
(B)shall be available to the Secretary to carry out the pilot program under subsection
(a)without further appropriation and such amounts shall remain available until expended. The Secretary may not use such amounts from the Fund for any other purpose unless pursuant to a specific provision of law. In carrying out the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure the following: Proper oversight. The protection of veterans from returning to homelessness. The ability of the Secretary to respond to disputes. The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program under subsection
(a)during the three-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot program. During each year in which the Secretary carries out the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that details, with respect to the year covered by the report, the number of grants awarded, the amounts so awarded, the progress of home purchase and renovation made by eligible entities using such grants, and the number of tenants currently paying rent towards such homes. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary a total of $25,000,000 to carry out the pilot program under subsection
(a)and any such amounts appropriated shall remain available until expended. In this section, the term homeless veteran has the meaning given that term in section 2002 of title 38, United States Code.