38 U.S.C. § 2022 — Coordination of outreach services for vet-

Page 573 TITLE 38—VETERANS’ BENEFITS § 2022 Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under sec- tion 4101 of Title 25 and Tables. The date of the enactment of the Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2022, re- ferred to in subsecs. (b)(2), (g)(1), and (h)(2), is the date of enactment of div. U of Pub. L. 117–328, which was ap- proved Dec. 29, 2022. PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 2021 was renumbered section 4301 of this title and subsequently omitted in the general amendment of chapter 43 of this title by Pub. L. 103–353, § 2(a), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3150. AMENDMENTS 2022—Pub. L. 117–328 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to homeless veterans re- integration programs and authorized appropriations to carry out this section. Subsec. (e)(1)(F). Pub. L. 117–180 substituted ‘‘2024’’ for ‘‘2022’’. 2021—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 116–315 substituted ‘‘sec- tion 2023(d)’’ for ‘‘section 2023(e)’’. 2020—Subsec. (e)(1)(F). Pub. L. 116–159 substituted ‘‘2022’’ for ‘‘2020’’. 2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–407 substituted ‘‘re- integration into the labor force of—’’ for ‘‘reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force.’’ and added pars. (1) to (5). Subsec. (e)(1)(F). Pub. L. 115–251 substituted ‘‘2020’’ for ‘‘2018’’. 2017—Subsec. (e)(1)(F). Pub. L. 115–62 substituted ‘‘2018’’ for ‘‘2017’’. 2016—Subsec. (e)(1)(F). Pub. L. 114–228 substituted ‘‘2017’’ for ‘‘2016’’. 2015—Subsec. (e)(1)(F). Pub. L. 114–58 substituted ‘‘2016’’ for ‘‘2015’’. 2014—Subsec. (e)(1)(F). Pub. L. 113–175 substituted ‘‘2015’’ for ‘‘2014’’. 2013—Subsec. (e)(1)(F). Pub. L. 113–37 substituted ‘‘2014’’ for ‘‘2013’’. 2012—Subsec. (e)(1)(F). Pub. L. 112–154 substituted ‘‘2013’’ for ‘‘2012’’. 2011—Subsec. (e)(1)(F). Pub. L. 112–37 substituted ‘‘2012’’ for ‘‘2011’’. 2010—Subsec. (e)(1)(F). Pub. L. 111–275 substituted ‘‘2011’’ for ‘‘2009’’. 2006—Subsec. (e)(1)(F). Pub. L. 109–233 added subpar. (F). Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2013 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 113–37 effective Oct. 1, 2013, see section 4(a) of Pub. L. 113–37, set out as a note under section 322 of this title. § 2021A. Homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children reintegration grant program (a) GRANTS.—Subject to the availability of ap- propriations provided for such purpose, the Sec- retary of Labor shall make grants to programs and facilities that the Secretary determines pro- vide dedicated services for homeless women vet- erans and homeless veterans with children. (b) USE OF FUNDS.—Grants under this section shall be used to provide job training, counseling, placement services (including job readiness and literacy and skills training) and child care serv- ices to expedite the reintegration of homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children into the labor force. (c) REQUIREMENT TO MONITOR EXPENDITURES OF FUNDS.—(1) The Secretary of Labor shall col- lect such information as that Secretary con- siders appropriate to monitor and evaluate the distribution and expenditure of funds appro- priated to carry out this section. The informa- tion shall include data with respect to the re- sults or outcomes of the services provided to each homeless veteran under this section. (2) Information under paragraph (1) shall be furnished in such form and manner as the Sec- retary of Labor may specify. (d) ADMINISTRATION THROUGH THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF LABOR FOR VETERANS’ EMPLOY- MENT AND TRAINING.—The Secretary of Labor shall carry out this section through the Assist- ant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employ- ment and Training. (e) BIENNIAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Sec- retary of Labor shall include as part of the re- port required under section 2021(h)(1) of this title an evaluation of the grant program under this section, which shall include an evaluation of services furnished to veterans under this sec- tion and an analysis of the information col- lected under subsection (c). (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—(1) In addition to any amount authorized to be appro- priated to carry out section 2021 of this title, there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2025. (2) Funds appropriated to carry out this sec- tion shall remain available until expended. Funds obligated in any fiscal year to carry out this section may be expended in that fiscal year and the succeeding fiscal year. (Added Pub. L. 111–275, title II, § 202(a), Oct. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 2873; amended Pub. L. 114–58, title III, § 302, Sept. 30, 2015, 129 Stat. 534; Pub. L. 114–228, title III, § 302, Sept. 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 938; Pub. L. 115–62, title III, § 302, Sept. 29, 2017, 131 Stat. 1163; Pub. L. 115–251, title I, § 142, Sept. 29, 2018, 132 Stat. 3170; Pub. L. 116–159, div. E, title III, § 5302, Oct. 1, 2020, 134 Stat. 750; Pub. L. 117–180, div. E, title III, § 302, Sept. 30, 2022, 136 Stat. 2138; Pub. L. 117–328, div. U, title III, § 303(b), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5470; Pub. L. 118–83, div. B, title III, § 323, Sept. 26, 2024, 138 Stat. 1540.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2024—Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 118–83 substituted ‘‘2025’’ for ‘‘2024’’. 2022—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 117–328 substituted ‘‘section 2021(h)(1)’’ for ‘‘section 2021(d)’’. Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 117–180 substituted ‘‘2024’’ for ‘‘2022’’. 2020—Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 116–159 substituted ‘‘2022’’ for ‘‘2020’’. 2018—Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 115–251 substituted ‘‘2020’’ for ‘‘2018’’. 2017—Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 115–62 substituted ‘‘2018’’ for ‘‘2017’’. 2016—Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 114–228 substituted ‘‘2017’’ for ‘‘2016’’. 2015—Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 114–58 substituted ‘‘2016’’ for ‘‘2015’’. § 2022. Coordination of outreach services for vet- erans at risk of homelessness (a) OUTREACH PLAN.—The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Health, shall Page 574 TITLE 38—VETERANS’ BENEFITS § 2022A provide for appropriate officials of the Mental Health Service and the Readjustment Coun- seling Service of the Veterans Health Adminis- tration to develop a coordinated plan for joint outreach by the two Services to veterans at risk of homelessness, including particularly veterans who are being discharged or released from insti- tutions after inpatient psychiatric care, sub- stance abuse treatment, or imprisonment. (b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The outreach plan under subsection (a) shall include the fol- lowing: (1) Strategies to identify and collaborate with non-Department entities used by vet- erans who have not traditionally used Depart- ment services to further outreach efforts. (2) Strategies to ensure that mentoring pro- grams, recovery support groups, and other ap- propriate support networks are optimally available to veterans. (3) Appropriate programs or referrals to fam- ily support programs. (4) Means to increase access to case manage- ment services. (5) Plans for making additional employment services accessible to veterans. (6) Appropriate referral sources for mental health and substance abuse services. (c) COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIPS.—The out- reach plan under subsection (a) shall identify strategies for the Department to enter into for- mal cooperative relationships with entities out- side the Department to facilitate making serv- ices and resources optimally available to vet- erans. (d) REVIEW OF PLAN.—The Secretary shall sub- mit the outreach plan under subsection (a) to the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans for its review and consultation. (e) OUTREACH PROGRAM.—(1) The Secretary shall carry out an outreach program to provide information to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness. The program shall in- clude at a minimum— (A) provision of information about benefits available to eligible veterans from the Depart- ment; and (B) contact information for local Depart- ment facilities, including medical facilities, regional offices, and veterans centers. (2) In developing and carrying out the program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, consult with appropriate public and private organizations, including the Bureau of Prisons, State social service agencies, the Department of Defense, and mental health, veterans, and homeless advocates— (A) for assistance in identifying and con- tacting veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness; (B) to coordinate appropriate outreach ac- tivities with those organizations; and (C) to coordinate services provided to vet- erans with services provided by those organi- zations. (f) REPORTS.—(1) Not later than October 1, 2002, the Secretary shall submit to the Commit- tees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives an initial report that contains an evaluation of outreach activities carried out by the Secretary with respect to homeless veterans, including outreach regarding clinical issues and other benefits administered under this title. The Secretary shall conduct the evaluation in consultation with the Under Sec- retary for Benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs central office official responsible for the administration of the Readjustment Counseling Service, the Director of Homeless Veterans Pro- grams, and the Department of Veterans Affairs central office official responsible for the admin- istration of the Mental Health Strategic Health Care Group. (2) Not later than December 31, 2005, the Sec- retary shall submit to the committees referred to in paragraph (1) an interim report on out- reach activities carried out by the Secretary with respect to homeless veterans. The report shall include the following: (A) The Secretary’s outreach plan under sub- section (a), including goals and time lines for implementation of the plan for particular fa- cilities and service networks. (B) A description of the implementation and operation of the outreach program under sub- section (e). (C) A description of the implementation and operation of the program under section 2023 of this title. (3) Not later than July 1, 2007, the Secretary shall submit to the committees referred to in paragraph (1) a final report on outreach activi- ties carried out by the Secretary with respect to homeless veterans. The report shall include the following: (A) An evaluation of the effectiveness of the outreach plan under subsection (a). (B) An evaluation of the effectiveness of the outreach program under subsection (e). (C) An evaluation of the effectiveness of the demonstration program under section 2023 of this title. (D) Recommendations, if any, regarding an extension or modification of such outreach plan, such outreach program, and such dem- onstration program. (Added Pub. L. 107–95, § 5(a)(1), Dec. 21, 2001, 115 Stat. 910; amended Pub. L. 110–387, title VI, § 602(d)(3), Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4132.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 2022 was renumbered section 4302 of this title and subsequently omitted in the general amendment of chapter 43 of this title by Pub. L. 103–353, § 2(a), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3150. AMENDMENTS 2008—Subsec. (f)(2)(C). Pub. L. 110–387 struck out ‘‘demonstration’’ before ‘‘program’’. § 2022A. Legal services for homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness (a) GRANTS.—Subject to the availability of ap- propriations provided for such purpose, the Sec- retary shall award grants to eligible entities that provide legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness. (b) CRITERIA.—(1) The Secretary shall—