SECTION 1. VA 13 (title) is amended to read:
VA 13 (title) VETERANS ASSISTANCE HOUSING AND RECOVERY PROGRAM
SECTION 2. VA 13.01 (1) is amended to read:
VA 13.01 (1) “Applicant" means a person who requests assistance under the veterans assistance program by filing a written application with the department.
SECTION 3. VA 13.01 (2) is repealed.
SECTION 4. VA 13.01 (2m) is created to read:
VA 13.01 (2m) “Homeless” means for a veteran to be any of the following:
(a) Being without a full-time or adequate nighttime residence.
(b) Having a full-time nighttime residence that is not intended to be a regular place for people to sleep, including a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground.
(c) Residing in a shelter, including a hotel or motel, designated as a temporary living arrangement.
(d) Residing in a place not meant for human habitation or having exited an institution in which the veteran temporarily resided.
(e) Being at risk of imminently losing their housing, including housing they own, rent, or live in without paying rent or are sharing with others, as well as rooms in hotels or motels.
(f) Fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions in their current housing situation.
SECTION 5. VA 13.01 (3) and (4) are amended to read:
VA 13.01 (3) “Veteran” means a veteran as defined in s. 45.01 (12), Stats an individual who served in the U.S. armed forces or in forces incorporated as part of the U.S. armed forces and who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. VA 13.01 (4) “Veterans assistance program Program” means the veterans housing and recovery program authorized under s. 45.43, Stats. SECTION 6. VA 13.01 (5) is created to read:
VA 13.01 (4) “VHRP facility” means a program site that provides temporary housing for eligible veterans.
SECTION 7. VA 13.02 (title) is amended to read:
VA 13.02 (title) Eligibility Applicant eligibility.
SECTION 8. VA 13.02 (1) is amended to read:
VA 13.02 (1) Veteran status. The department shall verify an applicant’s veteran status during the assessment conducted under s. VA 13.03. SECTION 9. VA 13.02 (2) (title) is amended to read:
VA 13.02 (2) (title) Need Assessment to determine need for assistance.
SECTION 10. VA 13.02 (2) (intro.) and (a) are renumbered VA 13.02 (2) (br) (intro.) and 1. and amended to read:
VA 13.02 (2) (br) (intro.) Assistance shall be provided to a veteran under the veterans assistance program when the veteran’s need for assistance arises because of any of the following circumstances:
1. Homelessness Homeless or conditions which indicate that the veteran is at risk of becoming homeless.
SECTION 11. VA 13.02 (2) (b) is repealed.
SECTION 12. VA 13.02 (2) (c) to (e) are renumbered VA 13.02 (2) (br) 2. to 4., and VA 13.02 (2) (br) 4., as renumbered, is amended to read:
VA 13.02 (2) (br) 4. Insufficient monthly income and resources, as determined by the department, to pay for the cost of care provided at an assisted living facility established at a veterans home housing.
SECTION 13. VA 13.02 (3) is renumbered VA 13.02 (3) (a) and amended to read:
VA 13.02 (3) Provision of assistance. (a) A veteran who establishes a need for assistance under this section shall enter into a written agreement with the department identifying the assistance that the veteran shall receive and the veteran’s responsibilities under the veterans assistance program. The department may terminate assistance whenever the veteran fails to fulfill his or her responsibilities under the agreement.
SECTION 14. VA 13.02 (3) (b) and (4) are created to read:
VA 13.02 (3) (b) An applicant may be denied assistance under any of the following circumstances:
1. The applicant does not meet the definition of homeless.
2. The applicant’s needs exceed the capabilities of the program.
3. The applicant is on the sex offender registry.
4. The applicant has an outstanding active warrant.
5. The applicant was previously discharged for cause from the program by the department. The department may require a veteran to meet certain conditions prior to applying for assistance if the veteran was previously discharged from the program by the department.
(4) Additional benefit. Assistance provided under the program is additional to any other benefits or services a veteran is entitled to receive under any other program administered by the department.
SECTION 15. VA 13.03 (title) is repealed.
SECTION 16. VA 13.03 (intro.) and (1) to (4) are renumbered VA 13.02 (2) (ag) (intro.) and 1. to 4.
SECTION 17. VA 13.03 (5) is repealed.
SECTION 18. VA 13.03 (6) and (7) are renumbered VA 13.02 (2) (ag) 5. and 6.
SECTION 19. VA 13.035 is created to read:
VA 13.035 Program participation. (1) Written agreement. The department may provide assistance under the program upon determination of an applicant’s eligibility under s. VA 13.02 and after completing a written agreement between the veteran and the department. (2) Agreement requirements. The department shall specify all of the following in the written agreement:
(a) The veteran’s demographic information.
(b) The veteran’s responsibilities under the program and the consequences of the participant’s failure to comply with those responsibilities.
(c) A provision informing the veteran of the following rights:
1. The veteran’s right to voluntarily withdraw from the program at any time.
2. The veteran’s right to request reconsideration of a department decision to discharge a participant from the program as specified under s. VA 13.04 (3m). (d) The assistance the veteran is eligible to receive based on the assessment conducted under s. VA 13.02 (2). (e) The conditions of discharge as specified under s. VA 13.04 (2m). Note: A copy of the written agreement may be obtained on the department’s website at www.WisVets.com, or by request from the Department of Veterans Affairs, P.O. Box 7843, Madison, WI 53707-7843, or call 800-WIS-VETS (947-8387). (3) Terms of agreement. The term of the initial agreement may be up to 2 years as determined by the USDVA and may be extended by the department.
(4) Termination of agreement. The department may terminate assistance only for reasons specified under s. VA 13.04 (2m). The veteran may terminate the agreement at any time for any reason.
