3.4 Ending Homelessness for Veterans and their Families

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans Health Administration

VA Support for Homeless Services

John Kuhn, LCSW, MPHNational Director, Homeless Evaluation

and Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)

http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS



Federal Strategic Plan VA Five-Year Plan

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Built upon 6 strategic pillars: 1. Outreach/Education2. Treatment 3. Prevention4. Housing/Supportive

Services5. Income/ Employment/

Benefits 6. Community

Partnerships

Ending Ending Veteran Homelessness Veteran Homelessness



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• We begin with a recognition that every person/family who is homeless or at-risk has different concerns and needs to be addressed. These concerns may not match agency/provider interests.

• Homelessness only describes living conditions, does not identify the individual needs and aspirations.

• To get to Zero, must engage all Veterans - requires the development of a broad continuum of care that can address the needs identified by Veterans.

Veteran Centered ServicesVeteran Centered Services



A Continuum of A Continuum of CareCare

VA’s Alphabet Soup

• Outreach (CRRC, HCHV)• National Call Center (NCCHV)• Prevention (HCRV, VJO, SSVF, VHPD)• Transitional Housing (GPD, CWT/TR, HCHV

Contract Housing)• Residential Rehab (RRTP)• Voc Rehab (CWT)• Permanent Housing (HUD-VASH)

Services must address needs identified by those we serve. Program info: www.va.gov/homeless



• Many homeless people are unable to work due to a disability. Veterans are more likely to be older and disabled than the general homeless population.

• Both VBA (service connected and pension payments) and mainstream resources (Social Security, TANF, SNAPs) can offer critical assistance.

• Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) provides services for homeless Veterans at all 56 regional offices.

• The number of homeless Veterans claims’ received during FY 2009 (6,285) increased by 9.06% from FY 2008 (5,715). Assistance is also provided to Veteran homeowners who may be in foreclosure.

BenefitsBenefits



• Non-profit organizations may be eligible to purchase Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) acquired properties at a discount.

• VA markets these properties at fair market. Non-profits may purchase these properties at discounts after the properties have been listed for sale. Percentage of discount vary based on length of property listing.

• Listings – Bank of America's at http://va.reotrans.com Email: [email protected]

Telephone : (972)918-8024• VA POC: Valerie McDougle Telephone: (571)272-0039 Email: [email protected]

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Foreclosed VBA Foreclosed VBA PropertiesProperties



• Identify vacant or underutilized buildings within the VA inventory with 10,000 square feet or more of space to use for housing or other potential reuses

• Prevent homelessness: provide housing for Veterans and their families at risk for homelessness

• Reduce current homelessness: provide permanent housing and/or transitional housing depending upon local need.

• Current sites for potential development found at:

http://www.va.gov/ASSETMANAGEMENT/MissionHomeless/index.asp

DRAFT 7

Building Utilization Building Utilization Review and Reuse Review and Reuse

(BURR) (BURR)



Grant and Per Diem Grant and Per Diem Program (GPD)Program (GPD)

Capital Grants May pay up to 65% of construction, renovation, or

acquisition costs (requires a 35% match).

Eligible activities are:• Acquisition, Rehabilitation or New Construction of

Transitional Housing (up to 24 months stay)• Acquisition, Rehabilitation or New Construction• Procurement of a vans to provide transportation &

outreach for the purposes of providing supportive services.

• Expansion of existing transitional housing or service centers.

• Capital grant may be awards for construction, expansion or renovation of buildings on VA-owned property. 8



Grant and Per Diem Grant and Per Diem Program (GPDProgram (GPD))

Per Diem• Transitional housing (up to 2 years) with supportive

services designed to help homeless Veterans address rehabilitative needs, increase their skill levels and/or income, preparing them for community housing.

• Veterans are eligible for GPD housing if they are homeless or at-risk of homelessness and need rehabilitative services to find and maintain themselves in independent housing.

• Per diem payments currently up to $38.90 day and based on current state home rate

• Veterans may pay fee up to 30% of their monthly adjusted income.

http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/GPD.asp



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HUD-VASHHUD-VASH

• Largest permanent, supportive housing initiative for homeless Veterans.

• Veterans who meet VA health care eligibility requirements and who meet HUD’s definition of homeless”, with their families, are eligible to apply for housing choice voucher assistance

• Provides housing (HUD) with case management (VA) and supportive services (VA)

• 30,000 Housing Choice vouchers offered through 301 participating PHAs

• Almost 1,000 case managers provide case management and supportive services designed to promote housing stability and recovery.



• On September 28, 2010, HUD announced the availability of a set-aside of approximately 500 project--based vouchers (PBV) through HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) through a notice of competitive funding.

• Only those PHAs that currently administer VASH vouchers are eligible to respond to this Notice of Competitive Funding.

• Application deadline February 28, 2011.• www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/hcv/

vash

DRAFT 11

HUD-HUD-VASHVASH


Veterans Health AdministrationINCOME/EMPLOYMENTINCOME/EMPLOYMENT

• This strategy includes a multi-pronged effort aimed at improving financial opportunities for Veterans, including, at minimum, vocational training and enhanced access to benefits.

• VA’s Work programs provide paid work experience and vocational assistance services to approximately 50,000 Veterans each year, including 6,000 OEF/OIF Veterans. These services are integrated into the Veteran’s overall mental health treatment plan.

• Veterans in VA’s work programs earned in excess of $50 million during their participation.



Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) and Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program (VWIP)

– HVRP targets homeless veterans

– VWIP targets the following veterans groups:

• Those with service-connected disabilities

• Those who have significant barriers to employment

• Those who served during a campaign

• Those who are recently separated from active duty (within 48

months)

• DOL/VETS VWIP: http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/vwip/main.htm• DOL/VETS HVRP: http://www.dol.gov/vets/grants/main.htm

DOL/VETS ProgramsDOL/VETS Programs



Challenge is to effective target these services to engage those most at-risk.

• 1 in 10 impoverished Veterans become homeless at some point during the year (HUD, 2009).

• 1.3 million Veteran households have very low income, less than 50% of the area median income (GAO, 2007).

• Homeless Veterans may be more isolated from family and other social supports compared to the general homeless population.

• Veterans over the age of 51 over-represented among the homeless.

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Need for Targeted Need for Targeted Prevention and Diversion Prevention and Diversion

ServicesServices



Veterans Homelessness Veterans Homelessness Prevention Demonstration Prevention Demonstration

(VHPD)(VHPD)

• Collaboration of HUD, VA, and Department of Labor– HUD $10 million for housing assistance– VA $5 million for health care assessment and

services– DOL will provide education and job training

• Announced 5 sites—near military bases– Targets veterans from wars in Iraq and

Afghanistan – Urban and rural

• Similar in design to HPRP



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VHPD SitesVHPD Sites

Selected Sites VAMC Selected CoC

Camp Pendleton (San Diego, CA)

San Diego City of San Diego CoC

Fort Hood ( Killeen, TX)

Central Texas Austin/Travis CoC

Fort Drum (Watertown, NY)

Upstate New York Utica /Rome/Oneida County CoC

Joint Base Lewis - McChord (Seattle, WA)

Puget Sound Tacoma, Lakewood, Pierce County CoC

McDill Air Force Base (Tampa, FL)

Tampa Bay Tampa, Hillsborough County CoC



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Overview of SSVF ProgramOverview of SSVF Program

Goal of SSVF Program

•Provide housing stability to homeless and at-risk Veterans and their families . Modeled after HUD’s HPRP initiative.

Process

•VA will award grants to grantees (private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives)

•Grantees will provide supportive services to very low-income Veterans and their families who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness



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How SSVF Complements Other Programs

• A services “bridge”/enhancement to permanent supportive housing (e.g. in conjunction with the HUD-VASH Program)

• A stand-alone, short-term, intensive case management model (e.g. in conjunction with a program using a critical time intervention model)

• A homelessness, eviction, or housing crisis prevention program (e.g. in conjunction with a program such as HUD’s Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP)

Overview of SSVF Program Overview of SSVF Program (cont’d)(cont’d)



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How SSVF Differs from Other VA Programs

•Grantees will be community-based organizations

•Grantees will serve Veterans and their families

•Homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing focus

•Temporary financial assistance payments may be provided to third parties on behalf of participants

Overview of SSVF Program Overview of SSVF Program (cont’d)(cont’d)



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VA’s Goals & ObjectivesVA’s Goals & Objectives

Goals and Objectives for Awards under NOFA (NOFA Section J)

• Enhance the housing stability and independent living skills of very low-income Veteran families occupying permanent housing across geographic regions

• Rapidly re-house or prevent homelessness among the following target populations who also meet all requirements for being part of a very low-income Veteran family occupying permanent housing:1. Veteran families earning less than 30% of area median

income (AMI) as most recently published by HUD (http://www.huduser.org)

2. Veterans with at least one dependent family member 3. Chronically homeless Veteran families 4. Formerly chronically homeless Veteran families



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VA

Eligible Entities (private nonprofit organizations or consumer cooperatives)

Participants (very low-income Veteran families “occupying permanent housing”)

Provide Supportive Services

Award Supportive

Services Grants

OperationsOperations



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A. Veteran Family:

1) Veteran who is a single person, or

2) Family in which the head of household, or the spouse of the head of household, is a Veteran

B. Very Low-Income: <50% area median income C. Prevention:

1) Category (1): Currently residing in permanent housing

D. Rapid Re-Housing:

1) Category (2): Currently homeless, scheduled to become resident of permanent housing within 90 days pending the location or development of suitable permanent housing

2) Category (3): Exited permanent housing within the previous 90 days in order to seek housing more responsive to needs and preferences

Participant EligibilityParticipant Eligibility



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Required Supportive Services:A. Outreach servicesB. Case management servicesC. Assist participants to obtain VA benefits D. Assist participants to obtain and coordinate the provision of

other public benefits provided by Federal, State, or local agencies, or any eligible entity in the area or community served by the grantee (provided directly or through referral to partner agencies) • Housing counseling

services• Health care services• Personal financial planning

services• Transportation services • Income support services

• Fiduciary and representative payee services

• Legal services• Child care• Daily living services

Supportive ServicesSupportive Services



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Optional Supportive Services:Temporary financial assistance payments • Payments must help participants remain in or obtain

permanent housing and can be for the following purposes

• Payments are subject to the restrictions including the development of sustainability plan and payments can only be made to third parties

Supportive Services Supportive Services (cont’d)(cont’d)

• Rent, penalties, or fees

• Utility fees • Security or utility

deposits• Moving costs

• Purchase of emergency supplies

• Transportation• Child care



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Requirements for the Use of SSVF Grant Funds (NOFA Section G)

Uses of SSVF Grant Uses of SSVF Grant FundsFunds

*Note: Maximum of 30% of supportive services costs may be used for temporary financial assistance paid directly to a third party on behalf of a participant for child care, transportation, rental assistance, utility-fee payment assistance, security deposits, utility deposits, moving costs, and emergency supplies in accordance with §§ 62.33 and 62.34 of Final Rule.

60-75%

<10% Admin

Supportive Services to VeryLow-Income Veteran Families inOcc. Permanent HousingCategory 1 (20-35%)

Supportive Services to VeryLow-Income Veteran Families inOcc. Permanent HousingCategories 2 and 3 (60-75%)

Administrative Costs (All directand indirect costs associatedwith the management of theprogram) (Maximum of 10%)

20-35%(Categ. 1: Residing in Perm. Housing)

60-75%(Categs. 2 & 3: Transitioning from Homelessness to Perm. Housing)

<10% Admin



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Application Process & Application Process & Scoring Scoring

Application• Application package is posted on the SSVF website

(http://www.va.gov/homeless/SSVF.asp) – includes PDF file and Excel file (Attachment B)

• Corporation for Supportive Housing is providing technical assistance

For Technical Assistance

Questions regarding the application may be directed to the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) at 1-312-332-6690 ext. 17 (this is not a toll free number) / Email: [email protected]

Application Deadline• Five copies of application (prepared in accordance with NOFA

requirements) are due by 4:00 p.m. Eastern on Friday, March 11, 2011• May submit one application per state



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Scoring Criteria:

Application Process & Application Process & Scoring Scoring (cont’d)(cont’d)

Category Points

Elements

I. Background, Experience, Qualifications and Past Performance

35 • Background and organizational history• Staff qualifications• Organizational qualifications and past

performance• Experience working with Veterans

II.Program Concept and Supportive Services Plan

25 • Need for program• Outreach and screening plan• Program concept• Program implementation timeline• Collaboration and communication with VA• Ability to meet VA’s requirements, goals, and

objectives for the SSVF Program• Capacity to undertake program



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Scoring Criteria (cont’d)

Application Process & Application Process & Scoring Scoring (cont’d)(cont’d)

Category Points

Elements

III.Quality Assurance and Evaluation Plan

15 •Program evaluation•Monitoring•Remediation•Management and reporting

IV.Financial Capability and Plan

15 •Organizational finances•Financial feasibility of program

V. Area and Community Linkages and Relations

10 •Area or community linkages•Past working relationships •Local presence and knowledge•Integration of linkages and program concept



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For More InformationFor More Information

For more information about the SSVF Program, please visit:

http://www.va.gov/homeless/SSVF.asp

Email: [email protected] or

Call (toll-free) 1-877-737–0111



• Homeless Veteran in need of help now? Call 1-877-4AID VET (1-877-424-3838)

• The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has founded a National Call Center for Homeless Veterans hotline to ensure that homeless Veterans or Veterans at-risk for homelessness have free, 24/7 access to trained counselors. The hotline is intended to assist homeless Veterans and their families, VA Medical Centers, federal, state and local partners, community agencies, service providers and others in the community.

National Call CenterNational Call Center

3.4 Ending Homelessness for Veterans and their Families

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Transcript of 3.4 Ending Homelessness for Veterans and their Families