PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 6, 2025
End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2025
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to furnish case management to certain veterans who are eligible for the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the VA.
Specifically, the VA must furnish case management to veterans who are eligible for HUD-VASH that the VA determines require case management. The VA must prioritize vulnerable homeless veterans in assigning case managers and providing services.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
The VA must take certain actions if a veteran refuses case management. HUD or a public housing authority may not revoke assistance solely on the basis that a veteran has refused case management. Additionally, a veteran may not be evicted or penalized by the owner of a property solely on the basis that they have refused case management or cannot be provided case management for health and safety reasons.
The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress on veterans who are served by the HUD-VASH program, case managers and case management services provided under the program, and metrics about housing stability for veterans participating in federal housing assistance programs.
The bill also provides statutory authority to expand eligibility for the HUD-VASH program to any veteran who is homeless, at risk of homelessness, or receiving assistance under another housing assistance program if the VA determines a voucher under HUD-VASH is more appropriate. (Currently, assistance is statutorily limited to certain veterans who have chronic mental illness or substance use disorders.)
People & committees
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39] · D–CA
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We also preserved the text version used in the PlainBill explanation below.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Oct 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze H.R.1957 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.1957 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine H.R.1957 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine H.R.1957 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.
PlainBill explanation
Based on the full Introduced in House · 2025-03-06 text. This explanation has not received human editorial review. This overview describes the proposal’s major provisions; it does not establish what its real-world effects would be.
The proposed End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2025 would change HUD-VASH, a federal rental assistance program for veterans. It would cover veterans who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or receiving other housing assistance when a voucher is determined more appropriate. It would tie case management—help connecting veterans with services—to assessed need and protect veterans who refuse it from losing assistance or housing solely for that reason. It would also require reports on services, staffing, voucher use, and housing stability.
This Act may be cited as the End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2025.
the Secretary shall provide rental assistance on behalf of a veteran who is— (I) homeless; (II) at risk of homelessness; or (III) receiving assistance under another housing assistance program if the Secretary determines a voucher under this paragraph is a more appropriate form of assistance for such veteran;
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall furnish case management to a veteran described in clause (i) whom such Secretary (acting through an appropriately licensed or otherwise qualified employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs or an entity that participates in a centralized or coordinated entry system (as defined in section 578.3 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulation) of the Department of Housing and Urban Development) determines requires case management;
(II) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may not revoke such rental assistance on behalf of the veteran solely on the basis of such refusal; (III) a public housing authority may not revoke rental assistance provided by such authority on behalf of the veteran solely on the basis of such refusal; and (IV) the owner may not evict or otherwise penalize the veteran solely on the basis of such refusal;
whether a case manager successfully connects a veteran to a requested resource or support;
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shall submit to Congress an annual report
metrics regarding housing stability and retention for veterans participating in Federal housing assistance programs
Section 2 would add a requirement that a veteran be determined to need case management to the existing case-manager assignment provision. The full existing provision is not supplied, so its complete scope cannot be established from this amendment alone.
Section 2003(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) by inserting (1) before The Secretary; (2) by inserting , and who is determined to require case management, before is assigned;
The Department of Veterans Affairs would have to prioritize vulnerable homeless veterans when assigning case managers and providing services. This includes homeless veterans with disabilities, including chronic mental illness, chronic substance abuse disorders, or chronic physical disabilities.
In assigning case managers and providing services under this subsection, the Secretary shall prioritize vulnerable homeless veterans, including veterans who are homeless and who have disabilities (including chronic mental illness, chronic substance abuse disorders, or chronic physical disabilities).
Veterans Affairs, coordinating with Housing and Urban Development, would have to report annually to Congress on HUD-VASH. The report would cover veterans served; case-manager numbers, qualifications, and demographics; services provided; and standards of care, including staffing ratios, contact frequency, service connections, and professional credentials. Results would be broken down by locality, and by demographics if Veterans Affairs considers that appropriate.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shall submit to Congress an annual report on the program under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)), as amended by section 3 of this Act and commonly known as the HUD-VASH program, which shall include, for the year covered by the report, each of the following, disaggregated by locality and by demographics (if the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines it appropriate):
(1) An identification of the number and demographic characteristics of veterans served by the HUD-VASH program. (2) The number, qualifications, and demographics of case managers described in section 2003(b) of title 38, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a). (3) An assessment of the standard and scope of care provided by such case managers to such veterans, including factors such as— (A) staffing ratios; (B) practices used in case management; (C) frequency with which a case manager contacts a veteran; (D) whether a case manager successfully connects a veteran to a requested resource or support; and (E) professional licenses or certifications possessed by case managers. (4) An assessment of the types of services provided by such case managers to such veterans.
The annual report would also track vouchers requested, allocated, used, and assigned but unused; average time from assignment to use; the percentage of veterans who used a voucher and received case management; and barriers preventing voucher use.
(5) With regard to vouchers made available under the HUD-VASH program— (A) the number requested; (B) the number allocated; (C) the number used; (D) the number assigned but unused; and (E) the average time between such assignation and such use. (6) The percentage of such veterans who used such a voucher and received case management from such a case manager. (7) An identification of barriers that prevented the use of such vouchers by such veterans.
Section 3 would direct Housing and Urban Development to provide rental assistance for veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. It would also cover veterans receiving another form of housing assistance if the Secretary determines that a HUD-VASH voucher is more appropriate.
the Secretary shall provide rental assistance on behalf of a veteran who is— (I) homeless; (II) at risk of homelessness; or (III) receiving assistance under another housing assistance program if the Secretary determines a voucher under this paragraph is a more appropriate form of assistance for such veteran;
Veterans Affairs would have to provide case management to covered veterans it determines need that help, subject to the new administrative-fee provision. That determination could be made through an appropriately licensed or otherwise qualified Veterans Affairs employee, or through an entity participating in Housing and Urban Development's centralized or coordinated entry system.
(ii) subject to subparagraph (D), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall furnish case management to a veteran described in clause (i) whom such Secretary (acting through an appropriately licensed or otherwise qualified employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs or an entity that participates in a centralized or coordinated entry system (as defined in section 578.3 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulation) of the Department of Housing and Urban Development) determines requires case management;
(D) Administrative fees There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for administrative fee payments to public housing agencies
If a veteran assessed as needing case management refuses it, Veterans Affairs would have to keep trying to engage the veteran, seek feedback, and build a relationship to support housing stability and access to health care and other benefits. It would have to provide case management if the veteran later requests it.
(iii) in the case of a veteran described in clause (ii) who refuses case management— (I) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall— (aa) make recurring attempts to engage and build a relationship with the veteran, in order to provide such case management to the veteran, solicit feedback from the veteran, and promote the veteran’s housing stability and opportunities to access health care and other benefits under laws administered by the Secretary; and (bb) provide case management to such veteran if the veteran subsequently requests case management;
For those veterans who refuse case management, Housing and Urban Development and public housing authorities could not revoke rental assistance solely because of that refusal. Property owners likewise could not evict or otherwise penalize them solely for refusing. These protections are limited to actions based solely on the refusal.
(iii) in the case of a veteran described in clause (ii) who refuses case management—
(II) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may not revoke such rental assistance on behalf of the veteran solely on the basis of such refusal; (III) a public housing authority may not revoke rental assistance provided by such authority on behalf of the veteran solely on the basis of such refusal; and (IV) the owner may not evict or otherwise penalize the veteran solely on the basis of such refusal;
A property owner could not evict or otherwise penalize a veteran solely because case management was suspended to protect the health and safety of the veteran or case manager.
(iv) in the case of a veteran described in clause (ii) whose case management is suspended for the health and safety of the veteran or the case manager, the owner may not evict or otherwise penalize the veteran solely on the basis of such suspension.
A voucher could be used for a homeless veteran or a veteran at risk of homelessness whom Veterans Affairs determines does not need case management, but only if the program's notice of operating requirements includes that use.
(C) Veterans who do not require case management A voucher made available under this paragraph may be used for a homeless veteran, or a veteran at risk of homelessness, whom the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines does not require case management if such use is included in the notice of operating requirements of such program.
The bill would authorize Congress to provide whatever funding is necessary for public housing agencies' voucher administration and other eligible expenses defined by the Secretary through a notice. Examples include security deposit assistance and costs of retaining and supporting participating property owners. This authorizes future funding; it does not itself provide a specific appropriation.
(D) Administrative fees There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for administrative fee payments to public housing agencies for costs of administering vouchers under this paragraph and other eligible expenses, as shall be defined by notice issued by the Secretary, to facilitate the leasing of the vouchers, such as security deposit assistance and other costs related to retention and support of participating owners.
Section 3 would also delete the existing statutory subparagraph (B), replace a reference to amounts specified there with the word “amounts,” and renumber other subparagraphs. The deleted language is not reproduced, so the full effect of these changes cannot be determined from the supplied text.
(i) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting subparagraph (B); and (ii) by striking the amounts specified in subparagraph (B) and inserting amounts;
(2) by striking subparagraph (B); (3) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (B) and (E), respectively;
Section 4 would require the Comptroller General, who heads the Government Accountability Office, to report within one year after enactment. The report would cover veterans served, whether they receive case management, case-manager staffing and qualifications, service types and quality, and case-manager recruitment and retention. It would also examine housing stability, continued participation in federal housing assistance, and reasons veterans stopped participating. Demographic breakdowns would be subject to the Comptroller General's judgment about appropriateness.
4. GAO report on homeless veterans (a) Report required Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing the following, disaggregated by demographics (if the Comptroller General determines it appropriate)—
(1) a description of the demographic characteristics of veterans served by the HUD-VASH program, disaggregated by whether the veteran is receiving services from a case manager described in section 2003(b) of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 2 of this Act; (2) the number, qualifications, and demographic characteristics of such case managers; (3) an assessment of the types and quality of case management services provided to veterans by case managers described in section 2003(b) of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 2, disaggregated by locality; (4) an assessment of recruitment and retention of such case managers, disaggregated by locality and demographic characteristics; and (5) metrics regarding housing stability and retention for veterans participating in Federal housing assistance programs, including veterans who have participated in more than one such program and reasons why veterans ceased to so participate.
The Government Accountability Office report would go to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees, the House Financial Services Committee, and the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.
(b) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means the following: (1) The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives. (2) The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate. (3) The Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives. (4) The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
The supplied October 10, 2026 action snapshot records House introduction and committee referrals on March 6, 2025, followed by referral to the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee and hearings on March 10, 2025. It records a subcommittee markup and forwarding to the full committee by voice vote on February 24, 2026. This snapshot does not establish enactment.
Source snapshot updated 2026-10-10T08:05:27Z. 2026-02-24: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote. 2026-02-24: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held 2025-03-10: Subcommittee Hearings Held 2025-03-10: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. 2025-03-06: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2025-03-06: Introduced in House
A closer look
Reviewed version: Introduced in House · 2025-03-06. These findings describe provisions and who may benefit; they are not judgments of waste, corruption, or motive.
This review covers the supplied bill text. “None identified” does not rule out provisions in later versions or accompanying reports and disclosures.
Provisions outside the bill’s main subject, or policy changes attached to appropriations.
None identified in the reviewed text
No unrelated provision or policy rider was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This conclusion is limited to that version and does not establish absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Spending directed to particular recipients or places outside ordinary competitive or formula-based allocation.
None identified in the reviewed text
No congressionally directed spending for particular recipients or places was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. This text-only conclusion does not establish formal earmark status or absence in other versions or accompanying materials.
Narrow exceptions, exemptions, or preferential treatment that warrant a closer look.
None identified in the reviewed text
No materially narrow preferential carve-out was identified in the complete supplied introduced text. Program eligibility, needs-based priorities, housing protections, and routine program administration do not by themselves establish preferential treatment under this review. The conclusion is limited to this version, not other versions or accompanying materials.
Full text preserved for this analysis. Legislative record snapshot: Oct 10, 2026. How PlainBill uses AI