To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that, to the extent possible, an enhanced-use lease for a homeless housing project at the Department of Veterans Affairs facility known as the Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center, located in North Hills, California, shall provide that such housing project shall be maintained as a sober living facility for veterans only, and for other purposes.
(a) Requirements for Lease- The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into an enhanced-use lease under section 8162 of title 38, United States Code, at the Department facility known as the Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center (in this Act referred to as the `Center'), for a homeless housing project, only to the extent, subject to the exceptions provided in subsection (d), that any such lease contains legally enforceable provisions that the tenant under the lease shall comply with the following terms and conditions:
(1) That the housing project located at the Center shall provide housing exclusively for veterans, as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
(2) That such housing project shall be maintained, for the duration of the lease, as a sober living facility.
(3) That the housing project shall be adequately staffed with health care, counseling, and security personnel, taking into account the ratio of such staff to residents, in order to protect residents of the housing project and of the community, and that the minimum staffing ratios shall be specified in an enforceable provision of the lease.
(4) That the housing project shall provide housing to not fewer than 150 and not more than 225 residents.
(b) Consideration of Qualified Organizations- The Secretary shall consider proposals for the enhanced-use lease under subsection (a) from all organizations determined by the Secretary to be qualified, and which are capable and willing to comply with the terms and conditions described in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (a).
(c) Selection of Organization- In the event that there are more than one qualified organizations described in subsection (b) which submit a proposal, the Secretary shall enter into the enhanced-use lease under subsection (a) with the organization that the Secretary determines shall offer the best treatment services, security staffing, and supervision with respect to residents of the housing project. The Secretary shall give preference to entering into such a lease with a qualified organization which has the most experience nationwide in providing housing and treatment for homeless veterans.
(d) Exceptions- If the Secretary, after a diligent search, is unable to enter into an enhanced-use lease with a qualified organization containing all of the terms and conditions specified in subsection (a) on or before a date that is 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary--
(1) may enter into such a lease with a qualified organization providing that the housing project shall be exclusively for veterans during the duration of the lease, with preference given to an organization which housing project shall provide housing to the highest number of residents not exceeding 225; and
(2) if, after a diligent search, the Secretary is unable to enter into such a lease with a qualified organization that provides that the housing project shall be exclusively for veterans during the duration of the lease, may enter into such a lease with an organization providing that not less than 80 percent of the residents of the housing project shall be veterans throughout the duration of the lease.
Passed the House of Representatives May 7, 2007.
Attest:
U.S. Congress - Text of H.R.1642 as Referred in Senate Homeless Veterans Housing at Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center Promotion Act
