HR1957-119

What This Bill Does

The End Veteran Homelessness Act rewrites several HUD-VASH and VA case-management rules. VA must prioritize vulnerable homeless veterans, including those with disabilities, chronic mental illness, chronic substance use disorders, or chronic physical disabilities, when assigning case managers and services. HUD-VASH rental assistance must be available for veterans who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or already receiving another housing program if HUD determines a HUD-VASH voucher is more appropriate. VA must furnish case management when a qualified VA employee or coordinated-entry entity determines it is needed, but veterans who refuse case management cannot lose HUD, public housing authority, or landlord support solely for that refusal; VA must keep trying to engage them and provide case management later if requested. Vouchers can also serve homeless or at-risk veterans whom VA determines do not require case management if operating requirements allow it. The bill authorizes sums necessary for public housing agency administrative fees and leasing-support expenses such as security deposits, requires VA and HUD annual reports on HUD-VASH veterans, case managers, staffing ratios, voucher requests/allocation/use, barriers, and service quality, and requires GAO to report within one year on case management, recruitment and retention, and housing stability.

Who Benefits and How

Homeless veterans benefit because HUD-VASH rental assistance can reach veterans who are homeless, at risk, or better served by a voucher than another housing program. Vulnerable homeless veterans with disabilities, chronic mental illness, substance use disorders, or physical disabilities benefit from priority case management. Veterans who refuse case management benefit because vouchers cannot be revoked or housing penalized solely for refusal. Public housing agencies benefit from authorized administrative fees and eligible leasing-support expenses such as security deposit assistance. Congressional veterans and housing committees benefit from VA/HUD annual reports and a GAO report on case management and housing stability.

Who Bears the Burden and How

VA must prioritize vulnerable veterans, furnish case management, keep re-engaging veterans who refuse services, and provide detailed annual reporting. HUD must administer expanded voucher eligibility and protect rental assistance from revocation solely for case-management refusal. Public housing authorities and owners may not revoke assistance, evict, or penalize veterans solely because case management is refused or suspended. GAO must assess case management quality, recruitment and retention, demographics, and housing stability metrics. Federal taxpayers fund expanded administrative fees and leasing-support expenses.

Key Provisions

• Requires VA to prioritize vulnerable homeless veterans when assigning case managers and services.
• Expands HUD-VASH rental assistance to homeless, at-risk, and better-served veterans and some veterans not requiring case management.
• Protects vouchers and housing from revocation, eviction, or penalty solely due to case-management refusal or suspension.
• Authorizes administrative fees and leasing-support expenses and requires VA/HUD annual reports plus a GAO report.