text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Housing Assistance for Veterans Act 
  of 2012'' or the ``HAVEN Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
  
      In this Act:
              (1) Disabled.--The term ``disabled'' means an individual 
          with a disability, as defined by section 12102 of title 42, 
          United States Code.
              (2) Eligible veteran.--The term ``eligible veteran'' means 
          a disabled or low-income veteran.
              (3) Energy efficient features or equipment.--The term 
          ``energy efficient features or equipment'' means features of, 
          or equipment in, a primary residence that help reduce the 
          amount of electricity used to heat, cool, or ventilate such 
          residence, including insulation, weatherstripping, air sealing, 
          heating system repairs, duct sealing, or other measures.
              (4) Low-income veteran.--The term ``low-income veteran'' 
          means a veteran whose income does not exceed 80 percent of the 
          median income for an area, as determined by the Secretary.
              (5) Nonprofit organization.--The term ``nonprofit 
          organization'' means an organization that is--
                      (A) described in section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) of 
                  the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
                      (B) exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such 
                  Code.
              (6) Primary residence.--
                      (A) In general.--The term ``primary residence'' 
                  means a single family house, a duplex, or a unit within 
                  a multiple-dwelling structure that is an eligible 
                  veteran's principal dwelling and is owned by such 
                  veteran or a family member of such veteran.
                      (B) Family member defined.--For purposes of this 
                  paragraph, the term ``family member'' includes--
                              (i) a spouse, child, grandchild, parent, or 
                          sibling;
                              (ii) a spouse of such a child, grandchild, 
                          parent, or sibling; or
                              (iii) any individual related by blood or 
                          affinity whose close association with a veteran 
                          is the equivalent of a family relationship.
              (7) Qualified organization.--The term ``qualified 
          organization'' means a nonprofit organization that provides 
          nationwide or State-wide programs that primarily serve veterans 
          or low-income individuals.
              (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
          of Housing and Urban Development.
              (9) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the same meaning as 
          given such term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
              (10) Veterans service organization.--The term ``veterans 
          service organization'' means any organization recognized by the 
          Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of 
          veterans under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.
  
  SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF A PILOT PROGRAM.
  
      (a) Grant.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a pilot 
          program to award grants to qualified organizations to 
          rehabilitate and modify the primary residence of eligible 
          veterans.
              (2) Coordination.--The Secretary shall work in conjunction 
          with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and oversee 
          the pilot program and to ensure that such program meets the 
          needs of eligible veterans.
              (3) Maximum grant.--A grant award under the pilot program 
          to any one qualified organization shall not exceed $1,000,000 
          in any one fiscal year, and such an award shall remain 
          available until expended by such organization.
      (b) Application.--
              (1) In general.--Each qualified organization that desires a 
          grant under the pilot program shall submit an application to 
          the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and, in addition to 
          the information required under paragraph (2), accompanied by 
          such information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
              (2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph 
          (1) shall include--
                      (A) a plan of action detailing outreach 
                  initiatives;
                      (B) the approximate number of veterans the 
                  qualified organization intends to serve using grant 
                  funds;
                      (C) a description of the type of work that will be 
                  conducted, such as interior home modifications, energy 
                  efficiency improvements, and other similar categories 
                  of work; and
                      (D) a plan for working with the Department of 
                  Veterans Affairs and veterans service organizations to 
                  identify veterans and serve their needs.
              (3) Preferences.--In awarding grants under the pilot 
          program, the Secretary shall give preference to a qualified 
          organization--
                      (A) with experience in providing housing 
                  rehabilitation and modification services for disabled 
                  veterans; or
                      (B) that proposes to provide housing rehabilitation 
                  and modification services for eligible veterans who 
                  live in rural areas (the Secretary, through 
                  regulations, shall define the term ``rural areas'').
      (c) Criteria.--In order to receive a grant award under the pilot 
  program, a qualified organization shall meet the following criteria:
              (1) Demonstrate expertise in providing housing 
          rehabilitation and modification services for disabled or low-
          income individuals for the purpose of making the homes of such 
          individuals accessible, functional, and safe for such 
          individuals.
              (2) Have established outreach initiatives that--
                      (A) would engage eligible veterans and veterans 
                  service organizations in projects utilizing grant funds 
                  under the pilot program; and
                      (B) identify eligible veterans and their families 
                  and enlist veterans involved in skilled trades, such as 
                  carpentry, roofing, plumbing, or HVAC work.
              (3) Have an established nationwide or State-wide network of 
          affiliates that are--
                      (A) nonprofit organizations; and
                      (B) able to provide housing rehabilitation and 
                  modification services for eligible veterans.
              (4) Have experience in successfully carrying out the 
          accountability and reporting requirements involved in the 
          proper administration of grant funds, including funds provided 
          by private entities or Federal, State, or local government 
          entities.
      (d) Use of Funds.--A grant award under the pilot program shall be 
  used--
              (1) to modify and rehabilitate the primary residence of an 
          eligible veteran, and may include--
                      (A) installing wheelchair ramps, widening exterior 
                  and interior doors, reconfigurating and re-equipping 
                  bathrooms (which includes installing new fixtures and 
                  grab bars), removing doorway thresholds, installing 
                  special lighting, adding additional electrical outlets 
                  and electrical service, and installing appropriate 
                  floor coverings to--
                              (i) accommodate the functional limitations 
                          that result from having a disability; or
                              (ii) if such residence does not have 
                          modifications necessary to reduce the chances 
                          that an elderly, but not disabled person, will 
                          fall in their home, reduce the risks of such an 
                          elderly person from falling;
                      (B) rehabilitating such residence that is in a 
                  state of interior or exterior disrepair; and
                      (C) installing energy efficient features or 
                  equipment if--
                              (i) an eligible veteran's monthly utility 
                          costs for such residence is more than 5 percent 
                          of such veteran's monthly income; and
                              (ii) an energy audit of such residence 
                          indicates that the installation of energy 
                          efficient features or equipment will reduce 
                          such costs by 10 percent or more;
              (2) in connection with modification and rehabilitation 
          services provided under the pilot program, to provide 
          technical, administrative, and training support to an affiliate 
          of a qualified organization receiving a grant under such pilot 
          program; and
              (3) for other purposes as the Secretary may prescribe 
          through regulations.
      (e) Oversight.--The Secretary shall direct the oversight of the 
  grant funds for the pilot program so that such funds are used 
  efficiently until expended to fulfill the purpose of addressing the 
  adaptive housing needs of eligible veterans.
      (f) Matching Funds.--
              (1) In general.--A qualified organization receiving a grant 
          under the pilot program shall contribute towards the housing 
          modification and rehabilitation services provided to eligible 
          veterans an amount equal to not less than 50 percent of the 
          grant award received by such organization.
              (2) In-kind contributions.--In order to meet the 
          requirement under paragraph (1), such organization may arrange 
          for in-kind contributions.
      (g) Limitation Cost to the Veterans.--A qualified organization 
  receiving a grant under the pilot program shall modify or rehabilitate 
  the primary residence of an eligible veteran at no cost to such veteran 
  (including application fees) or at a cost such that such veteran pays 
  no more than 30 percent of his or her income in housing costs during 
  any month.
      (h) Reports.--
              (1) Annual report.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress, 
          on an annual basis, a report that provides, with respect to the 
          year for which such report is written--
                      (A) the number of eligible veterans provided 
                  assistance under the pilot program;
                      (B) the socioeconomic characteristics of such 
                  veterans, including their gender, age, race, and 
                  ethnicity;
                      (C) the total number, types, and locations of 
                  entities contracted under such program to administer 
                  the grant funding;
                      (D) the amount of matching funds and in-kind 
                  contributions raised with each grant;
                      (E) a description of the housing rehabilitation and 
                  modification services provided, costs saved, and 
                  actions taken under such program;
                      (F) a description of the outreach initiatives 
                  implemented by the Secretary to educate the general 
                  public and eligible entities about such program;
                      (G) a description of the outreach initiatives 
                  instituted by grant recipients to engage eligible 
                  veterans and veteran service organizations in projects 
                  utilizing grant funds under such program;
                      (H) a description of the outreach initiatives 
                  instituted by grant recipients to identify eligible 
                  veterans and their families; and
                      (I) any other information that the Secretary 
                  considers relevant in assessing such program.
              (2) Final report.--Not later than 6 months after the 
          completion of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to 
          Congress a report that provides such information that the 
          Secretary considers relevant in assessing the pilot program.
      (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
  appropriated for carrying out this Act $4,000,000 for each of fiscal 
  years 2013 through 2017.
target: Housing Assistance for Veterans Act of 2012 or HAVEN Act - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish a pilot program to award grants to nonprofit organizations that primarily serve veterans or low-income individuals. Requires such grants to be used to rehabilitate and modify the primary residence of disabled or low-income veterans (at a specified limited or no cost to such veterans). Limits grant amounts to $1 million per organization. Requires the Secretary to direct the oversight of grant fund use. Requires a minimum of 50% matching funds by participating organizations.
feat_title: A bill to establish a pilot program to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make grants to nonprofit organizations to rehabilitate and modify homes of disabled and low-income veterans.