(2) In providing advice to the Secretary under this subsection, the Committee shall
(A) assemble and review information relating to the needs of homeless veterans;
(B) provide an on-going assessment of the effectiveness of the policies, organizational structures, and services of the Department in assisting homeless veterans; and
(C) provide on-going advice on the most appropriate means of providing assistance to homeless veterans.
(3) The Committee shall
(A) review the continuum of services provided by the Department directly or by contract in order to define cross-cutting issues and to improve coordination of all services with the Department that are involved in addressing the special needs of homeless veterans;
(B) identify (through the annual assessments under section
2034 of this title and other available resources) gaps in programs of the Department in serving homeless veterans, including identification of geographic areas with unmet needs, and provide recommendations to address those gaps;
(C) identify gaps in existing information systems on homeless veterans, both within and outside the Department, and provide recommendations about redressing problems in data collection;
(D) identify barriers under existing laws and policies to effective coordination by the Department with other Federal agencies and with State and local agencies addressing homeless populations;
(E) identify opportunities for increased liaison by the Department with nongovernmental organizations and individual groups providing services to homeless populations;
(F) with appropriate officials of the Department designated by the Secretary, participate with the Interagency Council on the Homeless under title II of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (
42 U.S.C.
11311 et seq.);
(G) recommend appropriate funding levels for specialized programs for homeless veterans provided or funded by the Department;
(H) recommend appropriate placement options for veterans who, because of advanced age, frailty, or severe mental illness, may not be appropriate candidates for vocational rehabilitation or independent living; and
(I) perform such other functions as the Secretary may direct.