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)
Homeless
Justice
Community
Help
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 37
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How can a Nation which supposedly prides itself on a Strong Military; kick these Homeless Veterans to the curb by not assisting them in their time of need, when they served you so well in your time of need?
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Would the VA consider purchasing housing for Veterans who are at risk of homelessness?
My name is V. Brown. I am a Real estate Agent in Central NJ. I often receive referral clients from the VA. These are Veteran clients in need of housing. Most of them make too much money to qualify for VA assistance and yet credit issues are a barrier to obtaining rental housing. Low credit scores should not be considered for U.S. Veterans especially when they are gainfully employed. Also, when a Veteran tries to use the VA eligibility to purchase a home, again the same credit issues remain a barrier to housing. Our country could do better by our Veterans concerning housing be forgoing any credit issues, or purchase housing on the Veterans behalf.
V. Brown (SGT)
U.S. Army Veteran
Weichert Realtors
My name is V. Brown. I am a Real estate Agent in Central NJ. I often receive referral clients from the VA. These are Veteran clients in need of housing. Most of them make too much money to qualify for VA assistance and yet credit issues are a barrier to obtaining rental housing. Low credit scores should not be considered for U.S. Veterans especially when they are gainfully employed. Also, when a Veteran tries to use the VA eligibility to purchase a home, again the same credit issues remain a barrier to housing. Our country could do better by our Veterans concerning housing be forgoing any credit issues, or purchase housing on the Veterans behalf.
V. Brown (SGT)
U.S. Army Veteran
Weichert Realtors
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I’m currently located at the extended stay in Dearborn next to Fairlane mall. I was put in this hotel for over a month so far but my time is running out.
My situation is weird but it’s just because it’s system based, I’m a marine veteran who last year was approved for a HUD Vash voucher but no apartment would still accept me. So I moved to Peru to have a better cost of living but a close friend died in March and I flew back here to the US before the outbreak.
So I became homeless again in the same situation when all I’m trying to do is find stability for my mind and for my kids to have a stable place to spend time with.
My situation is weird but it’s just because it’s system based, I’m a marine veteran who last year was approved for a HUD Vash voucher but no apartment would still accept me. So I moved to Peru to have a better cost of living but a close friend died in March and I flew back here to the US before the outbreak.
So I became homeless again in the same situation when all I’m trying to do is find stability for my mind and for my kids to have a stable place to spend time with.
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SrA (Join to see)
Hi CPL Martinez - This event will take place on this page. The VA organizations listed above will be online at 3PM EST to answer questions in writing. Do you have a question you would like to ask in advance or live during the event? If so, simply type your question/comment into the "Respond to original question..." box above.
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Jeffery Quarles
Thanks for your interest CPL Martinez. If you miss the meeting you can learn more about our programs at http://www.va.gov/homeless
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Hi I am Michael Martin Cates! I am a Vietnam Veteran who came home and went to College and got a Teaching Cred. (Sec.) and Opened "Broadway Gymnastic School in 1978 just about ten years after returning from my first Tour of Duty in Vietnam during TET! I have grown it ever sense and just celebrated our 40th year in business! I/we would like to offer ALL Veterans Free Gymnastics Lessons! How do we get the word out?
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Anthony Love
You can connect with your local VA Medical Center or with Veteran Service Organizations in your community to get the word out to Veterans.
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The least that someone could have done is to state a correct email address: http://rly.pt/VAhomeless is not authentic. First it was a ERROR then it offers multiple sites.
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SrA (Join to see)
Hi SGT Watson - Thanks for the note. This is the correct web link: https://rly.pt/VAhomeless
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Why are there homeless veterans in the U.S.? I quite school in the 8th grade, but managed to retire from the USAF, and form a university as a Lab/Tech and lived long enough to retire as a senior citizen, I will never be homeless. I cannot understand how todays educated people are being homeless? If I can do it, so can everyone else, what am I missing?
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SGT Carl Watson
I was injured in two helicopter accidents in December !968. I complained or visited the medical clinics and I received Libriums, Darvons, Valiums 5,7 and 10 at different times until I suffered two in total heart murmurs. A doctor in 1970 asked my CO to discharge me but instead I was passed over for promotion; reduced in rank; Court Martialed for allegedly going AWOL for over 100 days in six months. Fingers, shoulders, knee and Hearing was lost. The doctor submitted another discharge recommendation letter to the CO in 71 and I was discharged after the second Court Martial. I tried to work after my first two year degree; second college degree and third Bachelor Degree but my back was hurting and the VAMC (hospital) diagnosed me with all types of Degenerative Conditions in 1990 in my forties.
Look at the number of disabled veterans receiving benefits and the number is about 170,000 applicants waiting for a response. Both mental and/or physical disabilities.
Look at the number of disabled veterans receiving benefits and the number is about 170,000 applicants waiting for a response. Both mental and/or physical disabilities.
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John Kuhn
Real income for most Americans has not kept up with increases in the cost of renting For some impoverished Veterans, these changes have priced them out of available housing which is one of the principle reasons why we have homelessness. Although mental illness and substance use disorders are contributing factors, these issues have always been with us - what has changed is the cost of housing.
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