(a) Grants.—
Subject to the availability of appropriations provided for such purpose, the Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities that provide legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness.
(b) Criteria.—
(1) The Secretary shall—
(2) In establishing criteria and requirements under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—
(A)
take into consideration any criteria and requirements needed with respect to carrying out this section in rural communities, on trust lands, and in the territories and possessions of the United States; and
(B) consult with organizations that have experience in providing services to homeless veterans, including—
(c) Eligible Entities.—The Secretary may award a grant under this section to an entity applying for such a grant only if the applicant for the grant—
(1)
is a public or nonprofit private entity with the capacity (as determined by the Secretary) to effectively administer a grant under this section;
(2)
demonstrates that adequate financial support will be available to carry out the services for which the grant is sought consistent with the application;
(d) Use of Funds.—Grants under this section shall be used to provide homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness the following legal services:
(1)
Legal services relating to housing, including eviction defense, representation in landlord-tenant cases, and representation in foreclosure cases.
(2)
Legal services relating to family law, including assistance in court proceedings for child support, divorce, estate planning, and family reconciliation.
(4)
Legal services relating to criminal defense, including defense in matters symptomatic of homelessness, such as outstanding warrants, fines, and driver’s license revocation, to reduce recidivism and facilitate the overcoming of reentry obstacles in employment or housing.
(5)
Legal services relating to requests to upgrade the characterization of a discharge or dismissal of a former member of the Armed Forces under section 1553 of title 10.
(e) Funds for Women Veterans.—
For any fiscal year, not less than 10 percent of the amount authorized to be appropriated for grants under this section shall be used to provide legal services described in subsection (d) to women veterans.
(f) Locations.—To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall award grants under this section to eligible entities in a manner that is equitably distributed across the geographic regions of the United States, including with respect to—
(4)
tribal organizations (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).
(g) Biennial Reports.—
(1)
Not less frequently than once every two years, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on grants awarded under this section.