Veterans and homelessness in rural areas

Kyle McEvillyCommunications and Program Assistant

[email protected]

National Coalition for Homeless Veterans

www.nchv.org

“Veterans and Homelessness in Rural Areas”

April 22, 2014April 22, 2014

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A Presidential Push

“We will provide new help

for homeless Veterans because

those heroes have a home –

it’s the country they served,

the United States of America.”

-President Obama (March 16, 2009)

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Agenda

Background on Veteran Homelessness

Rural Veterans and Homelessness

Programs

Remaining Challenges, Existing Services

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NCHV Mission:NCHV will end homelessness among veterans by shaping public policy, promoting collaboration, and building the capacity of service providers.

Federal Strategic Plan:Access to Housing – (Housing First, rapid rehousing)

Access to Health Care – (primary, mental, and rehabilitative services)

Income Security – (employment, benefits counseling)

Prevention – (rapid rehousing, financial assistance, supportive services)

The VA Five-Year Plan to End Veteran Homelessness is PART of the Federal Strategic Plan – nothing stops at the end of FY 2015

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Graph from The 2013 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress

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Graph generated by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans6

Contributions to Decline in Numbers

Improved coordination on the local level

More resources

Better data

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Map from The 2013 AHAR to Congress

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Homelessness and women veteranso 1,380 in FY 2006 / 3,328 in FY 2010 / 4,456 in FY 2013o Factors that impact total numbers

Data improvements and limitations; Impact of prevention and rapid re-housing; Impact of HUD-VASH

Homeless veterans in familieso 2% of homeless veterans are part of a familyo Factors that impact total numbers:

National mainstream trends; impact of HUD-VASH and prevention programs

OIF/OEF/OND veterans:o 5% of all veterans are between the ages of 18 and 30o 9% of homeless veterans are in this age group

Aging veterans:o 42.3% of veterans in shelter are between the ages 51 and 61

Trends in Veteran Homelessness

Homelessness & women veterans: Homeless Women Veterans: Actions Needed to Ensure Safe and Appropriate Housing (GAO, 2011);The 2013 AHAR to CongressHomeless veterans in families, OIF/OEF/OND veterans: Veteran Homelessness: A Supplemental Report to the 2010 AHAR to CongressAging veterans: The 2011 AHAR to Congress 9

Needs Profiles of Homeless Veterans

Continuum varies--one description cannot fit all:o Chronically homeless with multiple minor offenseso Incarcerated veterans who are transitioning outo Those with records of DUIs, substance abuse, firearm charges,

aggression chargeso Those fleeing domestic violence

Different organizations fill roles needed to support these individuals

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Rural Veterans

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Rural Veterans

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Rural Veterans

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Rural Veterans

Rurally located veterans in United States: 4 million

Rural, working-age veterans with disability: 20%+

Many OIF/OEF veterans return to rural areas

Statistics from Rural Veterans at a Glance, Economic Research Service (USDA)

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Veterans and Homelessness in Rural Areas

Veteran Homelessnesso 13.6% (or 7,898 veterans) were located in a BoS or statewide CoCs

Data limitations

What we DO know:o Primary “homeless” living situations for people in rural areas:

Limited shelters Overcrowded homes Substandard housing Outdoors

Statistic from The 2013 AHAR to Congress; other information from Rural Homelessness: Better Collaboration by HHS and HUDCould Improve Delivery of Services in Rural Areas (GAO, 2010)

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Veterans and Homelessness in Rural Areas

Chart from The 2013 AHAR to Congress

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Challenges with Serving Veterans in Rural Areas

Access to Medical Careo Less frequent use of VA serviceso Less access to community mental health serviceso Increased stigma of service utilizationo Shortage of primary healthcare workers, specialists locally

Access to Income Securityo Higher and more prolonged unemploymento Less access to public transportation serviceso Low-skill/seasonal job prevalence

Access to Housingo Disconnect between employment and housing locationo Restricted homelessness definitions

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Challenges with Serving Veterans in Rural Areas

Legal issues affect medical care, income security, housing access Decreased access to housing alternatives Restricted employment opportunities Ineligible for VA benefits payments Ineligible for VA medical services Ineligible for Vet Center family counseling and mental health

services

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Resources on Veteran Homelessness

NCHV

National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans

Local VA Medical Centers (VAMCs)

Continuums of Care (CoCs)

DOL American Job Centers (AJCs)19

Programs for Homeless and At-Risk Rural Veteran Population

Major Federal ProgramsMedical Care

Income Securityo HVRPo American Job Centers o VA Benefitso SSI/SSDI

Housingo Continuum of Careo Transitional Housing (GPD) o HUD-VASH

Prevention Programs (SSVF)

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Medical Care - Not VA eligible/mainstream servicesCounty mental health servicesMobile health clinicsTarget programs: elderly care, SME servicesState Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) through HHS

o provides health-insurance to low income children who do not qualify for Medicaid and have no health insurance

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through HHSo provides access to essential health care services for people who are low-income,

uninsured or who live in rural areas or urban neighborhoods where health care is scarce.

o HRSA-funded health centers provide medical care to nearly 17 million patients at more than 4,000 sites

o Funds programs to prevent child abuse and domestic violence

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(continued)

Domestic violence support groups

RAINN support groups

Administration for Children and Families (ACF) through HHSo Administers Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: providing assistance to an

estimated 4 million people Administers the national child support enforcement system

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Income Security Employment

o Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program (HVRP) Objectives:

• To provide services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force

• To stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans

o American Job Centers

Benefitso SOARo Expedited VA benefits processing

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Secretary Eric ShinsekiDepartment of Veterans Affairs

“We are making great progress in the rescue mission, but we must work harder to succeed in the prevention phase of our mission …

That is the only way we’ll truly end veteran homelessness.”

May 30, 2012

NCHV Annual Conference

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Challenges for Prevention Mission

Poverty • Number of veterans living in poverty: 1.4 million • VA data estimates 1 in 9 will experience homelessness: 154,000 • Veterans exiting incarceration (5 years): 200,000 • Low rank veterans exiting military (5 years): 750,000

Lack of affordable housing • Waiting lists for housing vouchers remain in most communities • Housing First and rapid rehousing depend on adequate affordable housing stock • Housing crisis imperils veteran families – most areas need

mixed-population, services-enriched developments

First two statistics from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; third statistic from U.S. Department of Justice25

Services to Reduce Risk of Homelessness

• Child care services • Child support enforcement • Legal assistance to remove barriers to housing, employment • Financial and credit counseling services • Financial guardianship • Mainstream assistance for low-income veteran families

─ Food stamps─ Family health care─ Transportation assistance─ Case management; peer counseling─ State Vocational/Rehabilitation Employment Services ─ SSI and SSDI assistance

• Family counseling services, reconciliation assistance • Driver’s license restoration assistance and photo ID services

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Kyle McEvillyCommunications and Program Assistant

[email protected]

(202) 546-7086

National Coalition for Homeless Veterans

www.nchv.org

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Veterans and homelessness in rural areas

Government & Nonprofit

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