Working with Veteran Affairs

Connecting Homeless Veterans to Resources

Goals• End Veteran Homelessness by the end of 2015• Connections to appropriate permanent housing

interventions • Identifying the needs of Veterans• Faster connections and bridges to mainstream

services

Ending Veteran Homelessness by 2015• In 2009, President Barack Obama and then VA

Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced the goal of ending Veteran homelessness by the end of 2015. Together with partners and supporters nationwide

• In order to accomplish this goal, the VA invested heavily in programs such as HUD-VASH, and Supportive Services for Veteran Families

Veteran Affairs Permanent Housing Interventions

• Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)• Rapid Rehousing and Prevention Program

• SSVF offers support services and short term financial assistance to help homeless Veterans move as quickly as possible into housing and attain housing stability.

Veteran Affairs Permanent Housing Interventions

• HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing

• Targets: Most Vulnerable chronically homeless Veterans, to include those with substance abuse disorders, medical and/or mental disabilities

Non VA Permanent Housing Interventions• Permanent Supportive Housing• Public Housing • RRH• VWWP

Identifying the Needs of Veterans

• Greater Richmond CoC Veterans Workgroup

• Created to bring Veteran service providers together in order educate and simplify access to services for Veterans.

• Veterans Helplink Outreach, In reach and assessment

Identifying the Needs of VeteransVeteran workgroup Partnering

Agencies

Veteran Helplink• Meets once a month as a group but coordinate

weekly to insure proper linkage to proper housing resource

• Provide outreach to those who cannot make it into the Homeless Point of Entry

• Provides soft handoffs to Veteran service providers and mainstream resources

• Participates as a part of coordinated assessment process for Veterans

Veterans Helplink for Richmond CoC Area

Homeless Veteran Hotline

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

424-3838)