VHA Homeless Programs was here on June 23rd, at 3PM EST. What questions do you have about resources for Veterans who are homeless?

You can ask questions to the following people:
Anthony Love - Director of Community Engagement at Veterans Affairs
John Kuhn - National Director, SSVF at Department at Veterans Affairs
Matthew Stimmel - National Training Director, Veterans Justice Programs at Veterans Affairs
Jillian Weber National Program Manager Homeless -PACT at Veterans Affairs
Jeffery Quarles - National Director, Grant and Per Diem Program at Veterans Affairs

Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program
The SSVF program was authorized by Public Law 110-387 and provides supportive services to very low-income Veteran families that are currently in or transitioning to permanent housing. SSVF is designed to rapidly re-house homeless Veteran families and prevent homelessness for those at imminent risk due to a housing crisis. Funds are granted to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that will assist very low-income Veteran families by providing a range of supportive services designed to promote housing stability.

Veterans Justice Programs
Services for Veterans Involved in the Criminal Justice System
Incarceration as an adult male is the most powerful predictor of homelessness. VA services for justice-involved Veterans are therefore provided through two dedicated national programs, both prevention-oriented components of VA’s Homeless Programs: Health Care for Reentry Veterans (HCRV) and Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO). Known collectively as the Veterans Justice Programs (VJP), HCRV and VJO facilitate access to needed VA health care and other services for Veterans at all stages of the criminal justice process, from initial contact with law enforcement through community reentry following extended incarceration.

Veterans Justice Outreach
VJO Specialists serve Veterans at earlier stages of the criminal justice process, with a three-
pronged focus on outreach to community law enforcement, jails, and courts. VJO Specialists at each VAMC work with Veterans in the local criminal courts (including but not limited to the
Veterans Treatment Courts, or VTCs), conduct outreach in local jails, and engage with local law
enforcement by delivering VA-focused training sessions and other informational presentations.
Each VA medical center has at least one VJO Specialist, who serves as a liaison between VA
and the local criminal justice system.

Health Care for Reentry Veterans
HCRV Specialists provide outreach to Veterans approaching release from state and Federal
prisons. They briefly assess reentry Veterans’ probable treatment needs, help Veterans plan to
access responsive services upon release, and provide post-release follow-up as needed to
ensure that Veterans are engaged with needed services. Most HCRV Specialists are based at
VA medical centers (VAMC), but they typically serve Veterans across a large area, often
conducting outreach to prison facilities in at least one entire state, and sometimes an entire
Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN).

Homeless-Patient Aligned Care Team (H-PACT)
H-PACT is a multi-disciplinary, population-tailored medical home designed around the unique needs and distinct challenges homeless Veterans face both accessing and engaging in health care. An interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, and case managers respond to the ongoing and evolving medical, mental health, and susbstance abuse needs of Veterans experiencing homelessness in one setting. The H-PACT care model centers on five core elements that distinguish it from tradtional primary care models including (1) reducing barriers to care, (2) offering one-stop wrap-around services that are integrated and coordianted, (3) engaging Veterans in intensive case management, (4) providing high quality, culturally-competent based care, and (5) providing performance-based and accountable care with use of real-time data and predictive analytics.

Make the Call
If you or a Veteran you know is homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless, trained, supportive professionals are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to connect you with the services you have earned. If you need safe, stable housing and you’re in crisis, Make the Call to 877-4AID-VET [login to see] ) or chat online at https://rly.pt/VAhomeless

Stay healthy
• Eligible Veterans can receive health care, including mental health care and treatment for substance use.

Secure safe, stable housing
• Veterans at imminent risk of becoming homeless can get assistance with expenses such as utilities and child care to help them stay in their homes.
• Qualified Veterans in temporary housing can get help finding a permanent place to live.
• VA can help Veterans having trouble making mortgage payments explore options to avoid foreclosure.

Find a job
• VA provides job training or referrals to help eligible Veterans gain skills to prepare them for employment.
• Work therapy programs can help Veterans who are homeless find temporary housing and a paying job.

Get a degree
• VA can help eligible Veterans go back to school and assist with living expenses while they pursue their studies.

No Veteran should ever be homeless.
Veterans can face unique physical, emotional, and financial challenges related to their service, and some of these challenges can lead to difficulty finding or keeping a home. Having a safe, stable place to call home can give Veterans a foundation to get back on their feet. If you or someone you served with is homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless, or is in crisis, VA is here to help.