Supportive Services for Veterans Families rule (2021)

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The Supportive Services for Veterans Families rule is a significant rule issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) effective November 10, 2021, that amends regulations that govern the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program, pursuant to section 2044 of title 38 United States Code (U.S.C.) and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).[1]
Timeline
The following timeline details key rulemaking activity:
- January 10, 2022: Comment period closed.[1]
- November 10, 2021: Interim final rule took effect.[1]
- November 10, 2021: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued the proposed rule and comment period began.[1]
Background
The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) is a program administered by the VA and designed to provide supportive services to very low-income veteran families who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. This rule amended the regulations that govern the SSVF Program.
Summary of the rule
The following is a summary of the rule from the rule's entry in the Federal Register:
| “ | The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its regulations that govern the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program. This interim final rule will provide a more effective subsidy to veterans in high-cost rental markets; increase the cap on General Housing Assistance to reflect increased costs; and extend the ability of SSVF grantees to provide emergency housing for the most vulnerable, unsheltered veterans and their families.[2] | ” |
Summary of provisions
The following is a summary of the provisions from the rule:
The VA's amendments aim to:
- provide a more effective subsidy to veterans in high-cost rental markets.
- raises the maximum amount of rental subsidy from 35 percent of the applicable Fair Market Rent (FMR) published by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to 50 percent.
- increase the cap on general housing stability assistance from $1,500 every two years to $1,800 every two years.
- increase the maximum allowed emergency housing placement period from 45 to 60 days.
Significant impact
- See also: Significant regulatory action
Executive Order 12866, issued by President Bill Clinton (D) in 1993, directed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to determine which agency rules qualify as significant rules and thus are subject to OMB review.
Significant rules have had or might have a large impact on the economy, environment, public health, or state or local governments. These actions may also conflict with other rules or presidential priorities. Executive Order 12866 further defined an economically significant rule as a significant rule with an associated economic impact of $100 million or more. Executive Order 14094, issued by President Joe Biden (D) on April 6, 2023, made changes to Executive Order 12866, including referring to economically significant rules as section 3(f)(1) significant rules and raising the monetary threshold for economic significance to $200 million or more.[1]
The text of the Supportive Services for Veterans Families rule states that OMB deemed this rule economically significant under E.O. 12866:
| “ | The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has determined that this rule is an economically significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.[2] | ” |
Text of the rule
The full text of the rule is available below:[1]
See also
External links
Footnotes