Posted on Jun 16, 2020
VHA Homeless Programs was here on June 23rd, at 3PM EST. What questions do you have about resources for Veterans who are homeless?
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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.
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.
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 37
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Thanks for having this important conversation. If you’re a veteran who lost your job due to COVID-19 and can’t make housing payments, what resources are available to help get back on track and avoid losing your home?
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Anthony Love
Hi Captain Charters. You can connect with our Supportive Services for Veterans Program in your community. You can go to the website https://www.va.gov/homeless/SSVF/ and click on the Providers by State tab to locate a provider near you. You can also call the National Center for Homeless Veterans at [login to see] for more information.
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John Kuhn
SSVF may be able to help you with rental payments if you qualify (SSVF cannot make mortgage payments). To find a local SSVF grantee go to http://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf and clink on the link "FY 2020 SSVF providers" for a grantee near you.
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Are there types of veteran community low housing that I can apply for?
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John Kuhn
Affordable housing availability varies by community. For local resources check https://www.usa.gov/finding-home.
This is the 404 error page for the USA.gov website.
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Anthony Love
Depending on where you live, there's Veteran housing that is affordable. You can also go to our website https://www.va.gov/homeless/housing.asp for VA housing assistance programs.
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Hi. I’m a veteran currently participating in SSVF. Will this be a virtual meeting with VHA? I would like to learn more about this please:
Get a degree
• VA can help eligible Veterans go back to school and assist with living expenses while they pursue their studies.
Get a degree
• VA can help eligible Veterans go back to school and assist with living expenses while they pursue their studies.
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John Kuhn
VBA may be able to assist if you still have your GI Benefits. Your SSVF grantee should be able to connect you to a local benefits counselor
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SN Marque Hudspeth
John Kuhn my gi bill benefits have expired. Are there any other options you. An recommend?
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Matthew Stimmel
Here are the eligibility requirements for Veteran Readiness and Employment, also offered by VBA, that may be an option depending on your specific circumstances. https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/vocational-rehabilitation/eligibility/ https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/index.asp
Eligibility for Veteran Readiness and Employment | Veterans Affairs
Review Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) eligibility requirements for Veterans and active-duty service members. If you have a service-connected disability that limits your ability, you may be eligible for employment support services.
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Thank you all for joining the discussion and your interest in learning about VHA Homeless Programs. Additional information about Homeless-Patient Aligned Care Teams (H-PACT) can be found at https://www.va.gov/homeless/h_pact.asp. To find the closest VA Medical Center to you please visit http://www.va.gov/directory and please be sure to call in advance for changes in policies and procedures during this COVID-19 emergency.
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Thanks for your questions and comments today. If you know someone who is homeless or at risk of homelessness they can receive help 24 hours a day 7 days a week from the National Call Center on Veterans Homelessness at [login to see] .
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Thank you for joining us today to discuss these important resources. Many Veterans and their families are now finding themselves in a situation they never thought possible. Perhaps unemployed for the first time in many years and facing accumulating debt, they are unfamiliar with VA programs that may be able to provide assistance. I encourage you to share what you have learned and let Veterans know they can reach out to [login to see] for assistance. Thank you for your service!
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VHA I've seen this bad movie multiple times I'll bet a dime to a Donuts the bureaucracy will refer me to a homeless shelter indoor mission keep wear a hatred violence and racism reign supreme
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John Kuhn
Right now we don't want to see homeless Veterans go to a traditional homeless shelter because with so many people in one place, there is a greater risk of COVID-19. SSVF will pay for your hotel/motel while working with you to find permanent housing. Call the VA helpline [login to see] to connect to local homeless assistance
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How can I help. At this time I have applied for a grant to study the feasibility of acquiring a old hotel in Orlando to convert to one bedroom units for veterans
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Anthony Love
There are several ways to help. You can volunteer at your local VA Medical Center or at an existing program that help Veterans who have become homeless get back on their feet. If you are interested in developing housing, check with the Housing and Urban Development on their programs. You can then follow up with VA on what assistance would be available to provide the supportive services necessary.
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John Kuhn
If you wanted to convert that hotel to permanent housing it is possible you could housing Veterans with HUD Section 8 vouchers. The HUD-VASH program has been created to place homeless Veterans into permanent housing. If you want more information about the HUD-VASH program there is information on the web at https://www.va.gov/homeless/housing.asp. If you want to find out more about how you can make your housing eligible for HUD-VASH use, email me at John Kuhn at [login to see] and I will connect you to someone in that program who might provide further information.
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Redundant long-winded Jabberwocky from the bureaucracy I seen this bad movie multiple times before when this event is all said and done guess what you'll be referred either to a mission or homeless shelter the VA is a fraud...
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SGT Carl Watson
You forgot the VA Transitional Houses that makes the VA look good when it reports to Congress if they can convince non alcoholics or drug addicts. They told me to lie.
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