Overview
Title
An Act To amend section 3(b)(4) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 to exclude certain disability benefits from income for the purposes of determining eligibility for the supported housing program under section 8(o)(19), and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
In simple terms, H.R. 965 is a plan to help veterans with disabilities get housing support more easily by ignoring some of their disability payment amounts when deciding who can get help. This means veterans could qualify for housing support without their disability money stopping them from getting it.
Summary AI
H.R. 965, known as the "Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act," aims to change how certain disability benefits are considered when determining eligibility for veterans in specific supported housing programs. It amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to exclude disability benefits received under chapters 11 and 15 of title 38 from a veteran's income calculations for these programs, although these benefits will still be considered for adjusted income assessments. The bill is designed to help veterans with disabilities access housing assistance without their benefits affecting their eligibility.
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AnalysisAI
The bill under consideration, known as the "Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act," aims to amend the United States Housing Act of 1937. Its primary focus is excluding specific disability benefits from income calculations when assessing eligibility for certain supported housing programs aimed at veterans. This exclusion specifically pertains to disability benefits received under particular chapters of the U.S. Code.
General Summary of the Bill
The "Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act" seeks to modify existing legislation to better accommodate the unique financial situations of disabled veterans. Notably, the bill proposes that certain disability benefits should not be regarded as part of a veteran's income when determining their eligibility for housing assistance programs. This adjustment is specifically targeted towards programs outlined in section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act. Additionally, the bill intends to clarify that these exclusions do not affect the broader definition of "adjusted income," a term potentially significant in calculating benefits and assistance levels.
Summary of Significant Issues
Several issues emerge from the proposed legislative changes:
Vague Definitions and Technical Language: The amendment utilizes technical language that might not be accessible to the general public or affected stakeholders. Terms like "adjusted income" are not well-defined within the text, potentially leading to confusion.
Potential Overlook of Vulnerable Groups: By focusing specifically on certain disability benefits, there is a risk that some groups of veterans, particularly those with different types of needs, may not receive necessary support.
Implementation Challenges: The bill refers to a housing assistance program "not yet in existence," which could present practical obstacles, such as delays in implementation if this program is not swiftly established.
Fairness and Disparity Concerns: Excluding certain disability benefits from income could create disparities between how different incomes are treated when determining eligibility, raising fairness issues.
Impacts on the Public
If enacted, this bill could have profound impacts on disabled veterans seeking housing assistance. By excluding certain disability benefits from income calculations, the bill aims to broaden accessibility to housing programs, theoretically allowing more veterans to qualify for help. For ordinary citizens, particularly those interested in veteran affairs, the bill underscores a societal commitment to support those who served the country and who now require assistance.
Impacts on Specific Stakeholders
Positive Impacts: Disabled veterans who receive benefits under the specified chapters of the U.S. Code could find it easier to qualify for housing assistance. This change may reduce their financial burdens and improve their housing stability, potentially leading to better overall quality of life.
Negative Impacts: Veterans who receive different types of income might perceive this as an unfair advantage given to some while neglecting others. Moreover, the technical nature of the bill might prevent its full understanding and utilization by those it intends to serve unless simplified explanations are disseminated.
Effective implementation of this bill would require addressing these concerns through clear communication and strategic roll-out plans. Stakeholders, especially veterans' advocacy groups, might benefit from active engagement in the process, ensuring the bill's intentions align with the practical needs of the community it aims to support.
Issues
The exclusion of certain disability benefits in Section 2 might inadvertently overlook groups of veterans who may need additional assistance. This could have significant ethical implications if vulnerable veterans are neglected due to the exclusion criteria.
There may be concerns about whether this exclusion in Section 2 could create disparities in how veterans' disability benefits are treated in comparison to other forms of income or benefits when determining eligibility and assistance levels, leading to potential legal and fairness issues.
The amendment in Section 2 refers to 'the supported housing program under section 8(o)(19)', which might be unclear to those not familiar with the detailed provisions of the housing programs covered by this section, creating potential legal confusion.
The provision in Section 3 is tied to a housing assistance program 'not yet in existence,' which could lead to implementation delays if the program is not established promptly, potentially causing legal and logistical issues.
The language throughout sections 2 and 3 is technical and may be difficult for the general public or stakeholders affected by this legislation to understand without additional explanation or context, raising potential political communication issues.
The exclusion terms being contingent upon the 'definition of adjusted income', which is not explained in the text, could potentially affect the implementation and fairness of the exclusion, leading to further legal and ethical concerns.
The term 'Department property' in Section 3 is defined by referring to another document, which can be inconvenient and confusing for readers, creating potential accessibility and legal clarity issues.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the bill provides its short title, which is the “Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act”.
2. Exclusion of certain disability benefits Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill amends the United States Housing Act to exclude certain veterans' disability benefits from income calculations for eligibility in housing assistance programs. However, these exclusions do not apply when defining "adjusted income."
3. Treatment of certain disability benefits Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
When figuring out if a veteran can rent a housing unit built on Department property with help from a new federal housing program, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will not count certain disability benefits as income. This rule applies only to benefits given under specific chapters of the U.S. Code.