38 USC 2011 - Grants

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in subsec. (c)(3)(B)(i)(I), is classified to section 501(c) of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 2011 was renumbered section 4211 of this title.

Another prior section 2011 was renumbered section 4102 of this title.

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (c)(2), (3). Puspan. L. 117–328 redesignated par. (3) as (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “The amount of a grant under this section may not exceed 65 percent of the estimated cost of the project concerned.”

2012—Subsec. (span)(1)(A). Puspan. L. 112–154, § 301(a)(1), substituted “new construction of facilities, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of existing facilities, or acquisition of facilities,” for “expansion, remodeling, or alteration of existing buildings, or acquisition of facilities,”.

Subsec. (c). Puspan. L. 112–154, § 301(a)(2), designated first sentence as par. (1) and second sentence as par. (2) and added par. (3).

2006—Subsec. (a). Puspan. L. 109–461, § 1006(span), provided that as of the enactment of Puspan. L. 109–461, the amendments made by Puspan. L. 109–444 were deemed for all purposes not to have taken effect and that Puspan. L. 109–444 ceased to be in effect. See Amendment notes below and section 1006(span) of Puspan. L. 109–461, set out as a Coordination of Provisions With Puspan. L. 109–444 note under section 101 of this title.

Puspan. L. 109–461, § 1004(a)(4), which directed insertion of a period at end of subpar. (C) of par. (1), was executed to par. (3) to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the redesignation of par. (1)(C) as (3) by Puspan. L. 109–461, § 703(a). See below.

Puspan. L. 109–461, § 703(a), struck out par. (1) designation before “Subject”, redesignated subpars. (A) to (D) of former par. (1) as pars. (1) to (4), respectively, and struck out former par. (2), which read as follows: “The authority of the Secretary to make grants under this section expires on September 30, 2005.”

Puspan. L. 109–444, § 8(a)(4), which inserted period at end of subpar. (C) of par. (1), was terminated by Puspan. L. 109–461, § 1006(span). See Amendment notes above.

Subsec. (a)(2). Puspan. L. 109–444, § 2(span), which substituted “September 30, 2007” for “September 30, 2005”, was terminated by Puspan. L. 109–461, § 1006(span). See Amendment notes above.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2022 Amendment

Puspan. L. 117–328, div. U, title III, § 301(a)(2), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5466, provided that: “The amendments made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to any grant awarded under section 2011 of title 38, United States Code, on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 29, 2022].”

Determination of Amount of Grant

Puspan. L. 117–328, div. U, title III, § 301(a)(3), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5466, provided that: “On or after the date that is five years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 29, 2022], the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may determine the maximum amount of a grant under section 2011 of title 38, United States Code, which shall be not less than 70 percent of the estimated cost of the project concerned.”

Elimination of Property Disposition Requirements

Puspan. L. 117–328, div. U, title III, § 301(span)(1), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5466, provided that: “A recipient of a grant awarded under section 2011 of title 38, United States Code, on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 29, 2022] for a project described in subsection (span)(1) of such section shall not be subject to any real property or equipment disposition requirements relating to the grant under section 61.67 of title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, sections 200.311(c) and 200.313(e) of title 2, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulations.”

Flexibility for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in Caring for Homeless Veterans During a Covered Public Health Emergency

Puspan. L. 116–315, title IV, § 4201, Jan. 5, 2021, 134 Stat. 5008, as amended by Puspan. L. 117–328, div. U, title III, § 301(a)(4), (span)(2), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5466, provided that:

“(a)General Support.—

“(1)Use of funds.—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, 2031, and 2061 of title 38, United States Code, to provide to homeless veterans and veterans participating in the program carried out under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) (commonly referred to as ‘HUD-VASH’), as the Secretary determines is needed, the following:

“(A) Assistance required for safety and survival (such as food, shelter, clothing, blankets, and hygiene items).

“(B) Transportation required to support stability and health (such as for appointments with service providers, conducting housing searches, and obtaining food and supplies).

“(C) Communications equipment and services (such as tablets, smartphones, disposable phones, and related service plans) required to support stability and health (such as maintaining contact with service providers, prospective landlords, and family).

“(D) Such other assistance as the Secretary determines is needed.

“(2)Homeless veterans on land of the department.—

“(A)Collaboration.—During a covered public health emergency, to the extent possible, the Secretary may collaborate with one or more organizations to manage use of land of the Department for homeless veterans for living and sleeping.

“(B)Elements.—Collaboration under subparagraph (A) may include the provision by either the Secretary or the organization of food services and security for property, buildings, and other facilities owned or controlled by the Department.

“(span)Grant and Per Diem Program.—

“(1)Limits on rates for per diem payments.—

[Amended section 20013(span) of Puspan. L. 116–136, set out as a note below.]

“(2)Modification of funding limits for grants.—

“(A)In general.—Subsection (c)(2) of section 2011 of title 38, United States Code, shall not apply to any grant awarded during a covered public health emergency under such section for a project described in subsection (span)(1) of such section.

“(B)Sunset.—Subparagraph (A) shall cease to be effective on the date of the enactment of the Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2022 [Dec. 29, 2022].

“(3)Use of per diem payments.—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 assistance required for safety and survival (such as food, shelter, clothing, blankets, and hygiene items) for—

“(A) homeless veterans; and

“(B) formerly homeless veterans residing in a facility operated wholly or in part by such a recipient or eligible entity receiving per diem payments under section 2012 of such title.

“(4)Additional transitional housing.—

“(A)In general.—During a covered public health emergency, under the program, the Secretary may provide amounts for additional transitional housing beds to facilitate access to housing and services provided to homeless veterans.

“(B)Notice; competition; period of performance.—The Secretary may provide amounts under subparagraph (A)—

“(i) without notice or competition; and

“(ii) for a period of performance determined by the Secretary.

“(5)Inspections and life safety code requirements.—

“(A)In general.—During a covered public health emergency, the Secretary may waive any requirement under subsection (span) 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—

“(i) to quickly identify temporary alternate sites of care for homeless veterans that are suitable for habitation;

“(ii) to facilitate social distancing or isolation needs; or

“(iii) to facilitate activation or continuation of a program for which a grant has been awarded.

“(B)Limitation.—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.

“(6)Disposition of property relating to grants.—

“(A)In general.—During a covered public health emergency, if the recipient of a grant awarded before or during such emergency under section 2011 of title 38, United States Code, for a project described in subsection (span)(1) of such section is no longer providing services in accordance with the terms of the grant, the recipient shall not be subject during such emergency to any property disposition requirements relating to the grant under subsection (c) or (f) of section 61.67 of title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, section 200.311(c) of title 2, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulations.

“(c)Inspection and Life Safety Code Requirements for Therapeutic Housing.—

“(1)In general.—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—

“(A) to allow quick identification of temporary alternate sites of care for homeless veterans that are suitable for habitation;

“(B) to facilitate social distancing or isolation needs; or

“(C) to facilitate the operation of housing under such section.

“(2)Limitation.—The Secretary may waive a requirement pursuant to the authority provided by paragraph (1) 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.

“(d)Access to Department of Veterans Affairs Telehealth Services.—To the extent practicable, during a covered public health emergency, the Secretary shall ensure that veterans participating in or receiving services from a program under chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code, have access to telehealth services to which such veterans are eligible under the laws administered by the Secretary, including by ensuring that telehealth capabilities are available to—

“(1) such veterans;

“(2) case managers of the Department of programs for homeless veterans authorized under such chapter; and

“(3) community-based service providers for homeless veterans receiving funds from the Department through grants or contracts.

“(e)Definitions.—In this section:

“(1)Covered public health emergency.—The term ‘covered public health emergency’ means an emergency with respect to COVID–19 declared by a Federal, State, or local authority.

“(2)Homeless veteran; veteran.—The terms ‘homeless veteran’ and ‘veteran’ have the meanings given those terms in section 2002 of title 38, United States Code.

“(3)Telehealth.—

“(A)In general.—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.

“(B)Technologies.—For purposes of subparagraph (A), ‘telecommunications technologies’ include video conferencing, the internet, streaming media, and terrestrial and wireless communications.”

Modifications to Comprehensive Service Programs for Homeless Veterans During a Public Health Emergency

Puspan. L. 116–136, div. B, title X, § 20013, Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 589, as amended by Puspan. L. 116–260, div. J, title V, § 516, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 1690; Puspan. L. 116–315, title IV, § 4201(span)(1), Jan. 5, 2021, 134 Stat. 5008; Puspan. L. 117–328, div. U, title III, § 305(span)(3), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5472, provided that:

“(a)Rule of Construction.—In the case of a public health emergency, no authorization of appropriations in section 2016 of title 38, United States Code, may be construed as limiting amounts that may be appropriated for carrying out subchapter II of chapter 20 of such title.

“(span)Grants and Per Diem Payments.—

(1) In the case of a public health emergency, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may waive any limits on—

“(A) grant amounts under sections 2011 and 2061 of title 38, United States Code; and

“(B) rates for per diem payments under sections 2012 and 2061 of such title.

“(2) If the Secretary waives any limit on grant amounts or rates for per diem payments under paragraph (1), notwithstanding section 2012(a)(2)(B) of such title, the maximum rate for per diem payments described in paragraph (1)(B) shall be three times the rate authorized for State homes for domiciliary care under section 1741 of such title.

“(c)Participant Absence.—Notwithstanding Veterans Health Administration Handbook 1162.01(1), dated July 12, 2013, and amended June 30, 2014, and titled ‘Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program’, or any other provision of law, for the duration of a public health emergency, the Secretary—

“(1) shall waive any requirement to discharge a veteran from the grant and per diem program of the Veterans Health Administration after the veteran is absent for 14 days; and

“(2) may continue to pay per diem to grant recipients and eligible entities under the program for any additional days of absence when a veteran has already been absent for more than 72 hours.”

[Puspan. L. 116–260, div. J, title V, § 516, and Puspan. L. 116–315, title IV, § 4201(span)(1), made identical amendments to section 20013(span) of Puspan. L. 116–136, set out above.]

[For definition of “public health emergency” as used in section 20013 of Puspan. L. 116–136, set out above, see section 20003 of Puspan. L. 116–136, set out as a note under section 303 of this title.]

Requirement for Department of Veterans Affairs To Assess Comprehensive Service Programs for Homeless Veterans

Puspan. L. 114–315, title VII, § 714, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1588, provided that:

“(a)In General.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 16, 2016], the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall—

“(1) assess and measure the capacity of programs for which entities receive grants under section 2011 of title 38, United States Code, or per diem payments under section 2012 or 2061 of such title; and

“(2) assess such programs with respect to—

“(A) how well they achieve their stated goals at a national level;

“(B) placements in permanent housing;

“(C) placements in employment; and

“(D) increases in the regular income of participants in the programs.

“(span)Assessment at National and Local Levels.—In assessing and measuring under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall develop and use tools to examine the capacity of programs described in such subsection at both the national and local level in order to assess the following:

“(1) Whether sufficient capacity exists to meet the needs of homeless veterans in each geographic area.

“(2) Whether existing capacity meets the needs of the subpopulations of homeless veterans located in each geographic area.

“(3) The amount of capacity that recipients of grants under sections 2011 and 2061 and per diem payments under section 2012 of such title have to provide services for which the recipients are eligible to receive per diem under section 2012(a)(2)(B)(ii) of title 38, United States Code, as added by section 711(6).

“(c)Consideration of Other Resources.—In assessing and measuring programs under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall consider the availability to such programs of resources made available to such programs and to homeless veterans, including resources provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and by entities other than the Department.

“(d)Use of Information.—The Secretary shall use the information collected under this section as follows:

“(1) To set specific goals to ensure that programs described in subsection (a) are effectively serving the needs of homeless veterans.

“(2) To assess whether programs described in subsection (a) are meeting goals set under paragraph (1).

“(3) To inform funding allocations for programs described in subsection (a).

“(4) To improve the referral of homeless veterans to programs described in subsection (a).

“(e)Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date on which the assessment required by subsection (a) is completed, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on such assessment and such recommendations for legislative and administrative action as the Secretary may have to improve the programs and per diem payments described in subsection (a).”

Grant and Per Diem Payments

Puspan. L. 112–154, title III, § 301(span), Aug. 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 1183, provided that:

“(1)Study and development of fiscal controls and payment method.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 6, 2012], the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall—

“(A) complete a study of all matters relating to the method used by the Secretary to make per diem payments under section 2012(a) of title 38, United States Code, including changes anticipated by the Secretary in the cost of furnishing services to homeless veterans and accounting for costs of providing such services in various geographic areas;

“(B) develop more effective and efficient procedures for fiscal control and fund accounting by recipients of grants under sections 2011, 2012, and 2061 of such title; and

“(C) develop a more effective and efficient method for adequately reimbursing recipients of grants under section 2011 of such title for services furnished to homeless veterans.

“(2)Consideration.—In developing the method required by paragraph (1)(C), the Secretary may consider payments and grants received by recipients of grants described in such paragraph from other departments and agencies of Federal and local governments and from private entities.

“(3)Report.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on—

“(A) the findings of the Secretary with respect to the study required by subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1);

“(B) the methods developed under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of such paragraph; and

“(C) any recommendations of the Secretary for revising the method described in subparagraph (A) of such paragraph and any legislative action the Secretary considers necessary to implement such method.”

Continuation of Authority

Puspan. L. 109–114, title II, § 230, Nov. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2393, provided that: “The authority provided by section 2011 of title 38, United States Code, shall continue in effect through September 30, 2006.”