Eligible activities

Congregate services programs assisted under this section shall include meal service adequate to meet at least one-third of the daily nutritional needs of eligible project residents, as follows:

(A) Supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits and agricultural commodities In providing meal services under this paragraph, each congregate services program— (i) shall— (I) apply for approval as a retail food store under section 2018 of title 7 ; and (II) if approved under such section, accept benefits as payment from individuals to whom such meal services are provided; and (ii) shall request, and use to provide such meal services, agricultural commodities made available without charge by the Secretary of Agriculture.

(B) Preference for nutrition providers In contracting for or otherwise providing for meal services under this paragraph, each congregate services program shall give preference to any provider of meal services who— (i) receives assistance under title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965 [ 42 U.S.C. 3021 et seq.]; or (ii) has experience, according to standards as the Secretary shall require, in providing meal services in a housing project under the Congregate Housing Services Act of 1978 [ 42 U.S.C. 8001 et seq.] or any other program for congregate services.

Assistance under this section may be provided with respect to eligible housing for the elderly for—

(A) retrofitting of individual dwelling units to meet the special physical needs of current or future residents who are or are expected to be eligible residents, which retrofitting may include— (i) widening of doors to allow passage by persons with disabilities in wheelchairs into and within units in the project; (ii) placement of light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats and other environmental controls in accessible locations; (iii) installation of grab bars in bathrooms or the placement of reinforcements in bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars; (iv) redesign of usable kitchens and bathrooms to permit a person in a wheelchair to maneuver about the space; and (v) such other features of adaptive design that the Secretary finds are appropriate to meet the special needs of such residents;

(B) such renovation as is necessary to ensure that public and common areas are readily accessible to and usable by eligible residents;

(C) renovation, conversion, or combination of vacant dwelling units to create congregate space to accommodate the provision of supportive services to eligible residents;

(D) renovation of existing congregate space to accommodate the provision of supportive services to eligible residents; and

(E) construction or renovation of facilities to create conveniently located congregate space to accommodate the provision of supportive services to eligible residents.

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “congregate space” shall include space for cafeterias or dining halls, community rooms or buildings, workshops, adult day health facilities, or other outpatient health facilities, or other essential service facilities.

Assistance under this section may be provided with respect to the employment of one or more individuals (hereinafter referred to as “service coordinator”) who may be responsible for—

(A) working with the professional assessment committee established under subsection (f) 2 2 So in original. Probably should be subsection “(e)”. on an ongoing basis to assess the service needs of eligible residents;

(B) working with service providers and the professional assessment committee to tailor the provision of services to the needs and characteristics of eligible residents;

(C) mobilizing public and private resources to ensure that the qualifying supportive services identified pursuant to subsection (d) can be funded over the time period identified under such subsection;

(D) monitoring and evaluating the impact and effectiveness of any supportive service program receiving capital or operating assistance under this section; and

(E) performing such other duties and functions that the Secretary deems appropriate to enable frail elderly persons residing in federally assisted housing to live with dignity and independence.

The Secretary shall establish such minimum qualifications and standards for the position of service coordinator that the Secretary deems necessary to ensure sound management. Such qualifications and standards shall include requiring each service coordinator to be trained in the aging process, elder services, disability services, eligibility for and procedures of Federal and applicable State entitlement programs, legal liability issues relating to providing service coordination, drug and alcohol use and abuse by the elderly, and mental health issues. The Secretary may fund the employment of service coordinators by using amounts appropriated under this section and by permitting owners to use existing sources of funds, including excess project reserves.

Congregate services programs assisted under this section may include services for transportation, personal care, dressing, bathing, toileting, housekeeping, chore assistance, nonmedical counseling, assessment of the safety of housing units, group and socialization activities, assistance with medications (in accordance with any applicable State law), case management, personal emergency response, and other services to prevent premature and unnecessary institutionalization of eligible project residents.

(A) Eligible project residents The owner of each eligible housing project shall establish fees for meals and other services provided under a congregate services program to eligible project residents, which shall be sufficient to provide 10 percent of the costs of the services provided. The Secretary concerned shall provide for the waiver of fees under this paragraph for individuals whose incomes are insufficient to provide for any payment. The fees for meals shall be in the following amounts: (i) Full meal services The fees for residents receiving more than 1 meal per day, 7 days per week, shall be reasonable and shall equal between 10 and 20 percent of the adjusted income of the project resident (as such income is determined under section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [ 42 U.S.C. 1437a(b) ]), or the cost of providing the services, whichever is less. (ii) Less than full meal services The fees for residents receiving meal services less frequently than as described in the preceding sentence shall be in an amount equal to 10 percent of such adjusted income of the project resident or the cost of providing the services, whichever is less.

(B) Other residents and nonresidents Fees shall be established under this paragraph for residents of eligible housing projects (other than eligible project residents) and for nonresidents that receive services from a congregate services program pursuant to subsection (e). Such fees shall be in an amount equal to the cost of providing the services.