Pennsylvania HB 1003: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, in powers and duties of the Department of Environmental Resources, its officers and departmental and advisory boards and commissions, providing for publication of permit list.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1090
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1003
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ, GIRAL, FREEMAN, McNEILL,
PIELLI, MADDEN, HOHENSTEIN, PROBST, GUENST, KHAN, GALLAGHER,
CERRATO, MALAGARI, DOUGHERTY AND KENYATTA, MARCH 24, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,
MARCH 24, 2025
AN ACT
Establishing the Veterans' Housing Assistance Program; and
imposing duties on Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Preventing
Veterans' Homelessness Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Agency." The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.
"Costs associated with the rental." The total costs of rent
and utilities, per month, for a residential rental unit.
"Department." The Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs of the Commonwealth.
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"Financial assistance." The rental voucher established under
section 5(a).
"Homeless veteran." A veteran identified and determined by
the department to be homeless or at imminent risk of becoming
homeless according to guidelines established by the department.
"Housing ombudsman." An individual designated by the agency
to carry out the duties and responsibilities under section 3(c)
(1).
"Program." The Veterans' Housing Assistance Program
established under section 3.
"Veteran." An individual who served on active duty in the
United States Armed Forces, including any of the following:
(1) A reservist or member of the National Guard who was
discharged or released from the service under honorable
conditions.
(2) A reservist or member of the National Guard who
completed an initial term of enlistment or qualifying period
of service.
(3) A reservist or member of the National Guard who was
disabled in the line of duty during training.
Section 3. Veterans' Housing Assistance Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Veterans' Housing Assistance Program
is established and shall be administered by the agency in
coordination with the department.
(b) Duties of department.--The department shall do all of
the following:
(1) Implement a program to identify homeless veterans
for purposes of enrolling them in the program.
(2) Coordinate with the agency to ensure that homeless
veterans are provided the opportunity to receive assistance
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from the agency's housing ombudsman or financial assistance
from the agency.
(3) Establish guidelines to assist with the
implementation of this act.
(c) Duties of agency.--The agency shall do all of the
following:
(1) Establish a housing ombudsman or contract with a
nonprofit organization to provide housing location,
relocation and stabilization services to homeless veterans,
including negotiating lease agreements with public agencies
or private landlords on behalf of a homeless veteran.
(2) Provide or contract with a third party to provide
credit counseling services to homeless veterans to resolve
personal credit issues that may have resulted in a negative
credit report.
(3) Award financial assistance to eligible homeless
veterans determined to be in need of financial assistance to
obtain housing.
(4) Establish guidelines to assist with the
implementation of this act.
Section 4. Enrollment.
(a) Procedure.--A veteran may enroll in the program by
filing an application with the department or the agency. A
veteran shall be eligible for enrollment if the veteran:
(1) is homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless
as defined in departmental guidelines established under
section 3(b); and
(2) cannot obtain adequate housing without the
assistance of the department and the agency.
(b) Conditions.--The department may require an eligible
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veteran to engage in or complete any of the following activities
as a condition of acceptance into the program:
(1) Mental health counseling, including treatment and
recovery support.
(2) Substance abuse treatment and recovery support,
including counseling, treatment planning, recovery coaching
and relapse prevention.
(3) Integrated, coordinated treatment for co-occurring
disorders.
(4) Health education, including referrals for medical
and dental care.
(5) Services or activities designed to promote self-
sufficiency, including:
(i) Job training.
(ii) Assistance in seeking employment.
(iii) Job placement services, including job
readiness, literacy and skills training.
(iv) Credit counseling services and remediation.
(v) Benefits advocacy.
(vi) Money management.
(vii) Parental skills and family support program