Bill > HR6381

This bill, known as the Housing Assistance for Veterans Act of 2012 or HAVEN Act, establishes a pilot program managed by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to award grants to nonprofit organizations that primarily serve veterans or low-income individuals. These grants are intended to fund the rehabilitation and modification of primary residences for disabled or low-income veterans, with the goal of making these homes more accessible, functional, and safe, or to address disrepair and improve energy efficiency. The bill defines key terms such as "disabled," "eligible veteran" (a disabled or low-income veteran), "low-income veteran" (whose income is 80% or less of the area median income), and "primary residence." Participating nonprofit organizations, referred to as "qualified organizations," must demonstrate expertise in housing rehabilitation and modification, have established outreach initiatives, and possess a network of affiliates. A crucial requirement is that these organizations must provide a minimum of 50% matching funds, which can include in-kind contributions, and the veteran should incur little to no cost for the modifications. The maximum grant amount to any single organization is capped at $1 million per fiscal year, and HUD will oversee the use of these funds to ensure efficiency. The bill also mandates annual reports to Congress detailing the program's impact, including the number of veterans assisted, the types of modifications made, and the matching funds raised.