Sec. 80006. Flexibility for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in caring for homeless veterans during a covered public health emergency
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During a covered public health emergency, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may use amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out sections 2011, 2012, and 2061 of title 38, United States Code, to provide to homeless veterans the following: Food. Shelter. Basic supplies (such as clothing, blankets, and toiletry items). Transportation. Communications equipment and required capabilities (such as smartphones, disposable phones, and phone service plans).
Such other assistance as the Secretary determines appropriate. During a covered public health emergency, the Secretary may use amounts in the revolving fund under section 8109(h) of title 38, United States Code, to alter parking facilities of the Department to facilitate the use of such facilities as temporary shelter locations for homeless veterans. During a covered public health emergency, the Secretary may partner with one or more organizations to manage land of the Department used by homeless veterans for sleeping.
During a covered public health emergency, the Secretary shall not be responsible for furnishing outdoor equipment necessary for sleeping on land of the Department. Notwithstanding paragraph
(2)of section 2012(a) of title 38, United States Code, during a covered public health emergency, the maximum rate of per diem authorized under such section is 300 percent of the rate authorized for State homes for domiciliary care under subsection (a)(1)(A) of section 1741 of such title, as the Secretary may increase from time to time under subsection
(c)of that section. During a covered public health emergency, a recipient of a grant or an eligible entity under the grant and per diem program of the Department (in this subsection referred to as the program ) may use per diem payments under sections 2012 and 2061 of title 38, United States Code, to provide food and basic supplies for— homeless veterans in the program; and formerly homeless veterans in the community who experienced homelessness during the one-year period ending on the date of the enactment of this Act. During a covered public health emergency, the Secretary may provide amounts for grants and per diem payments under the program for additional transitional housing beds to facilitate access to housing and services provided to homeless veterans. The Secretary may provide amounts under subparagraph (A)— without notice or competition; and for a period of performance determined by the Secretary. During a covered public health emergency, the Secretary may waive any requirement under subsection
(b)or
(c)of section 2012 of title 38, United States Code, in order to allow the recipient of a grant or an eligible entity under the program— to quickly identify temporary alternate sites of care for homeless veterans that are suitable for habitation; to facilitate social distancing or isolation needs; or to facilitate activation or continuation of a program for which a grant has been awarded. The Secretary may waive a requirement pursuant to the authority provided by subparagraph
(A)with respect to a facility of a recipient of a grant or an eligible entity under the program only if the facility meets applicable local safety requirements, including fire safety requirements. During a covered public health emergency, the Secretary may use amounts as authorized under subsection (a)(1) notwithstanding any requirement under subsection (a)(2) of section 2031 of title 38, United States Code, that community-based treatment facilities provide care, treatment, and rehabilitative services to veterans described in such section. During a covered public health emergency, if the Secretary reduces the care, treatment, and rehabilitative services provided to homeless veterans under section 2031(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, the Secretary shall submit to Congress monthly reports on the reduction of such care, treatment, and services for the duration of the covered public health emergency. During a covered public health emergency, the Secretary may waive any inspection or life safety code requirement under subsection
(c)of section 2032 of title 38, United States Code— to allow quick identification of temporary alternate sites of care for homeless veterans that are suitable for habitation; to facilitate social distancing or isolation needs; or to facilitate the operation of housing under such section. The Secretary may waive a requirement pursuant to the authority provided by subparagraph
(A)with respect to a residence or facility referred to in such section 2032 only if the residence or facility, as the case may be, meets applicable local safety requirements, including fire safety requirements. During a covered public health emergency, the Secretary may make available telehealth capabilities to homeless veterans who— are receiving services provided under chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code; or are participating in a program under such chapter. In this section: The term covered public health emergency means an emergency with respect to COVID–19 declared by a Federal, State, or local authority. The terms homeless veteran and veteran have the meanings given those terms in section 2002 of title 38, United States Code. The term parking facility has the meaning given that term in section 8109(a) of such title. The term telehealth means the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support and promote long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health, and health administration. For purposes of subparagraph (A), telecommunications technologies include video conferencing, the internet, streaming media, and terrestrial and wireless communications.