Federal Programs to End Veteran Homelessness: Snapshot on Advocacy Strategies NAEH NCHV

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National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) Community partners Invested in social services Homeless Veteran Service Providers

Groups serving homeless and at-risk persons

Groups serving veterans

A Look at the Numbers

How Far We’ve Come… EXHIBIT 5.1: PIT Estimates of Homeless Veterans By Sheltered Status, 2009–2015

2014-2015 #

2010-2015 %

#

%

Homeless Veterans

-1,964

-4.0

-26,362

-35.6

Sheltered

-614

-1.9

-11,932

-27.5

Unsheltered

-1,350

-7.7

-14,430

-47.1

JUST RELEASED! 2016 PIT Count Data 39,471 homeless veterans, 17% decrease from 2015, 47% decrease from 2010 *Source: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office Of Community Planning And Development, The 2015 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress, Part 1: Point-in Time Estimates of Homelessness. NOVEMBER 2015 https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/2015-AHAR-Part4 1.pdf

…But still a long way to go…. Estimates of Homeless Veterans By State, 2015 EXHIBIT 5.5:

The number of homeless veterans declined in 33 states and increased in 17 states and the District of Columbia between 2014 and 2015.

JUST RELEASED! In 2016 number of homeless veterans increased in 8 states

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Leading the Charge – How We Started “Until we reach a day when not a single veteran sleeps on our nation’s streets, our work remains unfinished.”

President Barack Obama, March 2009

USICH and the Federal Strategic Plan Driving Principles:  Homelessness is unacceptable  No “homeless people”  Invest in solutions



Homelessness is solvable; we have learned a lot about what works.

 Homelessness can be prevented  Strength in collaboration

Original Goals: 1)

Finish the job of ending chronic homelessness in five years;

2)

Prevent and end homelessness among Veterans in five years;

3)

Prevent and end homelessness for families, youth, and children in ten years; and

4)

Set a path to ending all types of homelessness.

Revisiting Opening Doors… In 2015, new USICH Executive Director Matthew Doherty updated the Federal Strategic Plan to End and Prevent Homelessness with critical information and needed changes Major goals: Prevent and end homelessness among Veterans in 2015

Finish the job of ending chronic homelessness in 2017 Prevent and end homelessness for families, youth, and children in 2020 Set a path to ending all types of homelessness

Many Communities have Reached Functional Zero Systems! • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Albany, NY Montgomery County, MD Connecticut New Orleans, LA Cumberland County/Fayetteville, NC Philadelphia, PA Daytona Beach/Volusia County, FL Reading/Berks County, PA Des Moines, IA Rochester, NY Flagler County, FL Rockford, IL Houston, TX San Antonio, TX La Cruces, NM

• • • • • • • • • • •

Saratoga Springs, NY Lancaster City and County, PA Schenectady, NY Las Vegas, NV Syracuse, NY Lynn, MA Troy, NY Mississippi Gulfport/Gulf Coast Regional CoC Virginia Mobile, AL Winston-Salem, NC

Unpacking Services and Programs: “The Cornerstones”

Veteran-Centered Services Legal Text Services Housing

Text Training

Veteran Supportive Services Employment 11

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Commitment from Federal Agencies 

Department of Veterans Affairs



Housing and Urban Development (HUD)



Department of Labor Leads to more resources for…

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Deeper and Expanded Reach SSVF growth: In 2015, VA had awarded $300 million in 319 individual SSVF grants to organizations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. HUD-VASH growth: Through FY 2016, HUD has awarded more than 86,000 HUDVASH vouchers.

GPD stability: The maintenance level of funding for current GPD beds is $250 million. The program must be modernized in order to keep pace with the department’s goal to end and prevent veteran homelessness. HVRP stability: The HVRP program is currently authorized at $50 million through FY 2016, yet is underfunded by about $12 million.

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Transitional Housing: GPD Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Began in 1993 – HVRP providers 2 components – Grant (construction) and Per Diem Limited stay – up to 24 months, ideally less than 90 days Provides housing and supportive services

Veterans can be asked to pay up to 30% of income as rent Per diem rate $43.32 per day per veteran

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Employment: HVRP Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) •

Authorized in 1996, funded by DOL-VETS in 1998

•

Primary objectives: •

Place homeless veterans in competitive employment

•

Develop service delivery system

•

In PY 2015, HVRP provided approximately $37 million in funding through 159 grants.

•

Core principles: client-centered, coordinated effort, connects veterans to an array of services, job-driven training approach

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HVRP Data Snapshot: 2014-15 

29,373 Assessments Conducted



17,033 Veterans enrolled



14,997 male veterans



2,036 women veteran



Caucasian 39%



African American 50%



Hispanic 8%



Native American 1%



Other 2%

Employment: DVOP Services What Services Can DVOPs Provide? 

Intensive services provided by DVOPs can include:



Comprehensive skill and needs assessments;



Individualized Employment Plan (IEP) development;



Group and individual counseling and career planning; and



Short-term pre-placement services to include basic life skills and interviewing skills.

How Do We Access these Services?     

Find your closest American Job Center Know the eligibility for services Refer eligible veterans with SBE Offer shared office space and workload Engage through Stand Down

HVRP and AJC Co-Enrollment WHAT is co-enrollment? Registration to receive services (DVOP and/or Wagner-Peyser) services at the AJC

WHEN should co-enrollment occur? Between July 1 (Q1, day 1) and March 31 (Q3, day 3) For participants enrolled in Q4, co-enrollment should be simultaneous

WHERE is the authority for co-enrollment? 2016 HVRP Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) VPL 03-16, released 7/15/16

HVRP and AJC Co-Enrollment (cont.) WHY is co-enrollment important? Benefits to veterans

Benefits to Community staff

Increased training opportunities through WIOA

Leveraged resources

Additional supportive services

Integrated approach

Access to voc rehab Connection to employers through LVERs Integrated case management

Intensive job placement services by DVOPs

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Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG) – Refocusing Guidelines April 2014 VPL – 03-14 DVOPs limited to providing intensive services to eligible veterans and eligible spouses who:

−

Have a Significant Barrier to Employment (SBE), or

−

Are members of a veteran population identified by the Secretary under 38 U.S.C. 4103A(a)(1)(C)

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Significant Barriers to Employment (SBEs) A special disabled or disabled veteran; A homeless person as defined in Sections 103(a) and (b) of the Mc-Kinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended; A recently-separated service member who has been unemployed for 27 or more weeks in the previous 12 months; An offender who is currently incarcerated or who has been released from incarceration; A veteran lacking a high school diploma or equivalent certificate; or

A low-income individual VPL-03-14 http://www.dol.gov/vets/VMS/VPLs/VPL-03-14-Change-2.pdf

Other AJC Services for Veterans Veterans who do NOT qualify for DVOP services (i.e. do NOT have an SBE): −served by other AJC staff and program (WP, WIOA) −can still receive intensive services as needed −Priority of service

Employment: VA CECs VA’s Homeless Veteran Community Employment Service 

Community Employment Coordinator at each VAMC



Build a collaboration of veteran serving programs in the local workforce system



Increase rates of employment in VA homeless programs



http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/HVCES.asp

Policy and Advocacy

Appropriations Update

Military Construction & Veteran Affairs

House

Senate

Conference & President

Passed

Passed

Conferencing

Committee reported

Passed

…

X

X

…

Transportation/ Housing Urban Development

Labor/ Health & Human Services / Education

Appropriations Update Military Construction & Veteran Affairs

Grant and Per Diem

Supportive Services For Veteran Families

President’s Budget Request

House

Senate

$247 million

$247 million

$257 million

$300 million

$300 million

$320 million

$496 million

$496 million

$496 million

HUD – VA Supportive Housing (case management dollars)

Appropriations Update

Transportation/ Housing and Urban Development

President’s Budget Request

House

Senate

New HUD-VA Supportive Housing Vouchers

$7 million: Tribal HUD-VASH renewal

$7 million: Tribal HUD-VASH renewal

$7 million: Tribal HUD-VASH renewal

No new HUD-VASH vouchers

No new HUD-VASH vouchers

$50 million for new HUD-VASH vouchers

Legislative Update – Vets First Act Allow HUD-VASH residents to enroll in the HVRP program, (Section 603)

Finally update the VA’s definition of homelessness, to include the McKinney-Vento updates which allow individuals fleeing domestic violence to be considered homeless, (Section 601) Authorize a higher Per Diem rate to be paid to Transition in Place programs, (Section 602) Ease the transition for any GPD that wishes to shift mission to permanent housing provider, (Section 604) Create a pilot program to test effectiveness of intensive case management on healthcare utilization rates, (Section 605)

Legislative Update – Vets First Act Permanently authorize the National Center for Homelessness Among Veterans, (Section 606) Create an annual review for the GPD program, and strengthen performance targets for program outcomes in the areas of permanent housing and income augmentation, (Section 607)

Create an expansive public-private partnership ability for the VA to provide legal services, (Section 608) Allow Per Diem to be paid to support the care of dependents accompanying a veteran, (Section 625) Permanently authorizes the use of VA homeless programs by veterans with “OTH” discharges. (Sections 621, 622, 623)

Talking to Congress Why do advocacy? Identifying your impact potential. Types of advocacy you can do. Equipping yourself. Tips and tricks for success.

Why do advocacy? What’s in it for everyone?

 What’s in it for you?  Attention

Knowledge

Constituent pressure Interest

What can you achieve? Where is your program? Where do you live? Where do staff live? Who is/are your Representative(s)?

Leadership, Committee Leadership, Committee Assignments? Past actions or interest Coming up with nothing? Don’t worry: There is always the Senate.

Types of advocacy: What can you commit to? What will get you the best result? Program: “Site visits” D.C.: “Hill meetings” D.C.: “Drop by’s”

Local: District Offices Remote: emails and calls

Equipping yourself for success What do I need to do to prepare for the meeting? What do I need to bring with me?

Program data Outcomes, costs, numbers served

Personal stories of success Local (and some national) data NCHV “One-Pagers”