38 U.S.C. § 2034 — Coordination with other agencies and or-

Page 579 TITLE 38—VETERANS’ BENEFITS § 2041 2001—Pub. L. 107–95, § 5(b)(1), renumbered section 1773 of this title as this section. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107–95, § 8(b), struck out ‘‘not fewer than eight programs (in addition to any existing programs providing similar services) at’’ after ‘‘estab- lishment of’’ and inserted at end ‘‘The Secretary shall carry out the program under this section in sites in at least each of the 20 largest metropolitan statistical areas.’’ Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 107–95, § 5(f), substituted ‘‘Decem- ber 31, 2006’’ for ‘‘December 31, 2001’’. § 2034. Coordination with other agencies and or- ganizations (a) In assisting homeless veterans, the Sec- retary shall coordinate with, and may provide services authorized under this title in conjunc- tion with, State and local governments, other appropriate departments and agencies of the Federal Government, and nongovernmental or- ganizations. (b)(1) The Secretary shall require the director of each medical center or the director of each re- gional benefits office to make an annual assess- ment of the needs of homeless veterans living within the area served by the medical center or regional office, as the case may be. (2) Each such assessment shall be made in co- ordination with representatives of State and local governments, other appropriate depart- ments and agencies of the Federal Government, and nongovernmental organizations that have experience working with homeless persons in that area. (3) Each such assessment shall identify the needs of homeless veterans with respect to the following: (A) Health care. (B) Education and training. (C) Employment. (D) Shelter. (E) Counseling. (F) Outreach services. (4) Each assessment shall also indicate the ex- tent to which the needs referred to in paragraph (3) are being met adequately by the programs of the Department, of other departments and agen- cies of the Federal Government, of State and local governments, and of nongovernmental or- ganizations. (5) Each assessment shall be carried out in ac- cordance with uniform procedures and guide- lines prescribed by the Secretary. (6) The Secretary shall review each annual as- sessment under this subsection and shall con- solidate the findings and conclusions of each such assessment into the next annual report submitted to Congress under section 2065 of this title. (c) In furtherance of subsection (a), the Sec- retary shall require the director of each medical center and the director of each regional benefits office, in coordination with representatives of State and local governments, other Federal offi- cials, and nongovernmental organizations that have experience working with homeless persons in the areas served by such facility or office, to— (1) develop a list of all public and private programs that provide assistance to homeless persons or homeless veterans in the area con- cerned, together with a description of the services offered by those programs; (2) seek to encourage the development by the representatives of such entities, in coordi- nation with the director, of a plan to coordi- nate among such public and private programs the provision of services to homeless veterans; (3) take appropriate action to meet, to the maximum extent practicable through existing programs and available resources, the needs of homeless veterans that are identified in the assessment conducted under subsection (b); and (4) attempt to inform homeless veterans whose needs the director cannot meet under paragraph (3) of the services available to such veterans within the area served by such center or office. (Added Pub. L. 105–114, title II, § 202(a), Nov. 21, 1997, 111 Stat. 2286, § 1774; renumbered § 2034 and amended Pub. L. 107–95, §§ 5(b)(1), 6(b), Dec. 21, 2001, 115 Stat. 918, 919.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2001—Pub. L. 107–95, § 5(b)(1), renumbered section 1774 of this title as this section. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 107–95, § 6(b)(1), inserted ‘‘an- nual’’ after ‘‘to make an’’. Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 107–95, § 6(b)(2), added par. (6). SUBCHAPTER V—HOUSING ASSISTANCE § 2041. Housing assistance for homeless veterans (a)(1) To assist homeless veterans and their families in acquiring shelter or permanent hous- ing, the Secretary may enter into agreements described in paragraph (2) with— (A) nonprofit organizations, with preference being given to any organization that is the re- cipient of a grant under section 2011, 2013, 2044, or 2061 of this title; or (B) any State or tribal entity, or any polit- ical subdivision thereof. (2) To carry out paragraph (1), the Secretary may enter into agreements to sell, lease, lease with an option to purchase, or donate real prop- erty, and improvements thereon, acquired by the Secretary as the result of a default on a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under this chapter. Such sale or lease or donation shall be for such consideration as the Secretary determines is in the best interests of homeless veterans and the Federal Government. (3) The Secretary may enter into an agree- ment under paragraph (1) of this subsection only if— (A) the Secretary determines that such an action will not adversely affect the ability of the Department— (i) to fulfill its statutory missions with re- spect to the Department loan guaranty pro- gram and the short- and long-term solvency of the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund established under section 3722 of this title; or (ii) to carry out other functions and ad- minister other programs authorized by law; (B) the entity to which the property is sold, leased, or donated agrees to—