Pilot program for housing assistance for homeless Native Hawaiians

(a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible Native Hawaiian The term eligible Native Hawaiian means a Native Hawaiian who is homeless or at risk of homelessness, as defined in sections 103 and 401 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302, 11360). (2) Eligible recipient The term eligible recipient means the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, a Native Hawaiian Organization, or a Native Hawaiian community-based organization. (3) Program The term Program means the program established under subsection (b). (b) Establishment The Secretary may use up to 1 percent of the amounts made available for grants under title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360 et seq.) each fiscal year to carry out a housing and supportive services program, to be known as the Native Hawaiian Homeless Assistance program, by awarding grants to eligible recipients for the benefit of eligible Native Hawaiians in the State of Hawaii. (c) Model; consultation The Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations in the Department of the Interior, shall— (1) model the Program on the rental assistance and supported housing program authorized under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) and applicable appropriations Acts for Native American veterans that are homeless or at risk of homelessness living on or near a reservation or other Indian areas; and (2) consult with eligible recipients to ensure effective delivery of grants under the Program. (d) Application Each eligible recipient applying for a grant under the Program shall submit to the Secretary an application that describes how the partnership of the eligible recipient with a Native Hawaiian Organization or a nonprofit organization will provide 2 years of mandatory case management services to a beneficiary of housing assistance provided under the Program, including in partnership with other qualified organizations, when appropriate. (e) Priority An eligible recipient that receives a grant under the Program shall prioritize providing assistance to homeless youth, families with children, and survivors of domestic violence. (f) Funding criteria Grants awarded under the Program shall be based on need, administrative capacity, and other criteria established by the Secretary in consultation with the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations in the Department of the Interior and eligible recipients. (g) Administration and waiver authority The Program shall be administered in accordance with the requirements under the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.), provided that the Secretary shall be authorized to waive, or specify alternative requirements for, any provision of any statute or regulation that the Secretary administers in connection with the use of funds made available under the Program (except for requirements related to fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, and the environment), upon a finding by the Secretary that any such waivers or alternative requirements are necessary for the effective delivery and administration of such assistance; and provided that the Secretary may by regulation provide for the release of funds for specific projects to eligible recipients under this section if the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands assumes all of the responsibilities for environmental review, decisionmaking, and action pursuant to section 806(a)(1)(B) of the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act of 1996. (h) Renewal grants The Secretary may set aside amounts made available under subsection (b) for renewal grants under the Program and define renewal criteria, including data reporting. (i) Study on barriers to implementation Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations in the Department of the Interior, shall review and submit to Congress a report on the implementation of the Program, including any barriers to implementation.