No Veteran Left Behind: Housing Retention Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 10968 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 10968

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant program to provide financial assistance to eligible entities to furnish supportive services to certain eligible veterans.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 9, 2026

Ms. Pelosi (for herself, Ms. Castor of Florida, and Mr. Takano) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

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A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant program to provide financial assistance to eligible entities to furnish supportive services to certain eligible 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 ``No Veteran Left Behind: Housing Retention Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR ELIGIBLE VETERANS.

Subchapter V of chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section (and conforming the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter accordingly): ``Sec. 2045. Financial assistance for supportive services for eligible veterans ``(a) In General.--(1) As part of the program established pursuant to section 2044 of this title, the Secretary shall provide financial assistance to eligible entities approved under this section to provide and coordinate the provision of supportive services described in subsection (b) for eligible veterans. ``(2) Financial assistance under this section shall consist of grants for each such eligible veteran for which an approved eligible entity is providing or coordinating the provision of supportive services. ``(3)(A) The Secretary shall provide such grants to each eligible entity that is providing or coordinating the provision of supportive services. ``(B) The Secretary is authorized to establish intervals of payment for the administration of such grants and establish a maximum amount to be awarded, in accordance with the services being provided and the duration of such services. ``(4) In providing financial assistance under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give preference to entities providing or coordinating the provision of supportive services for-- ``(A) veterans who are transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing; and ``(B) eligible veterans residing in permanent housing who require ongoing supportive services to-- ``(i) maintain housing stability; and ``(ii) prevent a return to homelessness or unnecessary institutionalization. ``(5) The Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, financial assistance under this subsection is equitably distributed across geographic regions, including rural communities and tribal lands. ``(6) Each entity receiving financial assistance under this section to provide supportive services to a veteran shall notify the veteran that such services are being paid for, in whole or in part, by the Department. ``(7) The Secretary may require entities receiving financial assistance under this section to submit a report to the Secretary that describes the projects carried out with such financial assistance. ``(b) Supportive Services.--The supportive services referred to in subsection (a) are the following: ``(1) Mental and behavioral health services, including-- ``(A) one-on-one counseling; ``(B) group counseling; ``(C) substance use disorder counseling; ``(D) crisis intervention; ``(E) peer support; and ``(F) other related personalized care. ``(2) Food bank, meal support, and grocery shop assistance. ``(3) Assistance with transportation to-- ``(A) medical appointments; ``(B) eviction prevention services, including tenant support services and services that promote habitability and housing retention; ``(C) job interviews; ``(D) vocational training; ``(E) grocery stores; ``(F) food pantries; and ``(G) offsite community-based services, social engagement, and other supportive services that promote independent living, social connectedness, and housing stability. ``(4) Occupational therapy or functional assessments, coordination of assistive devices, and environmental accessibility modifications. ``(5) Medication management support. ``(6) Eviction prevention services, including tenant support services and in-unit services that promote habitability and housing retention. ``(7) Financial management assistance. ``(8) Therapeutic and social activities. ``(9) Assistance with navigating options for health care. ``(c) Application for Financial Assistance.--(1) An eligible entity seeking financial assistance under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, in such manner, and containing such information and assurances as the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this section. ``(2) Each application submitted by an eligible entity under paragraph (1) shall contain-- ``(A) a description of the supportive services proposed to be provided by the eligible entity and the identified needs for those services; ``(B) a description of the types of eligible veterans proposed to be provided such services; ``(C) an estimate of the number of eligible veterans proposed to be provided such services; ``(D) evidence of the experience of the eligible entity in providing supportive services to eligible veterans; and ``(E) a description of the managerial capacity of the eligible entity-- ``(i) to coordinate the provision of supportive services with the provision of permanent housing by the eligible entity or by other organizations; ``(ii) to assess continuously the needs of eligible veterans for supportive services; ``(iii) to coordinate the provision of supportive services with the services of the Department; ``(iv) to tailor supportive services to the needs of eligible veterans; and ``(v) to seek continuously new sources of assistance to ensure the long-term provision of supportive services to eligible veterans. ``(3) The Secretary shall establish criteria for the selection of eligible entities to be provided financial assistance under this section. Such criteria shall include-- ``(A) demonstrated experience providing supportive services to homeless or formerly homeless veterans; and ``(B) a demonstrated capacity to-- ``(i) provide consistent on-site staffing at permanent supportive housing locations; and ``(ii) coordinate with the Department for the provision of supportive services. ``(d) Case Conferencing and Patient Data Sharing.--Each eligible entity in receipt of a grant under this section shall participate in multidisciplinary case conferences involving the Department, health care providers, housing providers, and community-based organizations to, consistent with applicable Federal and State privacy laws-- ``(1) facilitate service planning; ``(2) reduce duplication of services; and ``(3) support housing stability. ``(e) Plan for Coordination of Care With Other Federal Programs.-- In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall develop and implement a plan for the coordination of health care furnished to an eligible veteran by an eligible entity in receipt of a grant under this section with other health care or supportive services furnished to the same eligible veteran pursuant to other Federal programs. ``(f) Annual Report.--Each eligible entity in receipt of a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an annual report that includes a description of supportive services furnished, using grant funds, to eligible veterans during the period covered by the report. ``(g) Technical Assistance.--(1) The Secretary shall provide training and technical assistance to participating eligible entities regarding the planning, development, and provision of supportive services to very low-income veteran families occupying permanent housing, through the Technical Assistance grants program in section 2064 of this title. ``(2) The Secretary may provide the training described in paragraph (1) directly or through grants or contracts with appropriate public or nonprofit private entities. ``(h) Definitions.--In this section: ``(1) The term `chronically ill', with respect to a veteran, means experiencing one or more comorbid and medically complex conditions that-- ``(A) is-- ``(i) life-threatening; or ``(ii) significantly limits the overall health or function of the veteran; ``(B) carries a high risk of hospitalization or other adverse health outcome; or ``(C) requires intensive care coordination. ``(2) The term `consumer cooperative' has the meaning given such term in section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q). ``(3) The term `elderly' means, with respect to a veteran, aged 55 years or older. ``(4) The term `eligible entity' means-- ``(A) a private nonprofit organization; or ``(B) a consumer cooperative. ``(5) The term `eligible veteran' means a veteran-- ``(A) whose income, excluding income derived from disability compensation under chapter 11 or of this title or pension payments under chapter 15 of this title, does not exceed 80 percent of the median income for an area specified by the Secretary for purposes of this section, as determined by the Secretary in accordance with this paragraph; ``(B) who resides in permanent housing or is transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing; ``(C) who-- ``(i) is formerly homeless; or ``(ii) the Secretary determines is at-risk of homelessness; ``(D) who is-- ``(i) elderly; ``(ii) terminally ill; or ``(iii) chronically ill; or ``(E) who suffers from-- ``(i) a chronic substance use disorder; or ``(ii) a significant medical need, as determined by the Secretary. ``(6) The term `homeless' has the meaning given that term in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302). ``(7) The term `permanent housing' means community-based housing without a designated length of stay. ``(8) The term `private nonprofit organization' means any of the following: ``(A) Any incorporated private institution or foundation-- ``(i) whereby no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any member, founder, contributor, or individual; ``(ii) which has a governing board that is responsible for the operation of the supportive services provided under this section; and ``(iii) which is approved by the Secretary as to financial responsibility. ``(B) A for-profit limited partnership, the sole general partner of which is an organization meeting the requirements of clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A). ``(C) A corporation wholly owned and controlled by an organization meeting the requirements of clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A). ``(D) A State or local government agency. ``(E) A tribally designated housing entity (as defined in section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103)).''. <all>