VA Puget Sound Housing and Services for Homeless Veterans

I N C L U D E S : O U T R E A C H , C A S E M A N A G E M E N T , I N T E R I M / E M E R G E N C Y ,

T R A N S I T I O N A L A N D P E R M A N E N T S U P P O R T I V E H O U S I N G

Overview

Far too many Veterans are homeless in America—between 130,000 and 200,000 on any given night—representing between one fourth and one-fifth of all homeless people

Three times that many Veterans are struggling with excessive rent burdens and thus at increased risk of homelessness.

Conservatively, one out of every three homeless men who is sleeping in a doorway, alley or box in our cities and rural communities has put on a uniform and served this country.

Homeless Veterans

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) says the nation's homeless Veterans are mostly males (four percent are females).

The vast majority is single, most come from poor, disadvantaged communities, 45 percent suffer from mental illness, and half have substance abuse problems.

Women Veterans experiencing homelessness

Female homeless Veterans represent an estimated 4% of homeless Veterans. They are more likely than male homeless Veterans to be married and to suffer serious psychiatric illness, but less likely to be employed and to suffer from addiction disorders.

Comparisons of homeless female Veterans and other homeless women have found no differences in rates of mental illness or addictions

Seattle and King County

According to local sources, up to 21 percent of all homeless single adults in King County are Veterans, with an estimate of 1,000 to 1,150 homeless Veterans in our region.

About 27 percent (270 to 310) are chronically homeless. Most of these homeless Veterans are single and male, with an average age of 50.

Single homeless female Veterans make up nearly 4 percent of those living in shelters and transitional housing.

Local challenges

The gap in permanent housing for currently homeless Veterans in King County is estimated to be in the range of 610 to 770 units, of which 165 to 207 units is the estimated gap for chronically homeless Veterans.

The housing gap does not account for those who may become newly homeless as Veterans return to King County from Iraq or Afghanistan.

Outreach and Referrals

VA Health Care for the Homeless Program

Outreach workers to visit places where homeless Veterans may be like shelters, soup kitchens, and tent cities

They help Veteran get connected to medical and mental health care and VA housing programs.

The National Call Center for Homeless Veterans will generate over 1000 referrals this year alone to Puget Sound’s Housing Programs

Homeless Veteran in Need of Help 1-877-424-3838

HPACT slide

Health Care outreach

Homeless Prevention Program

Veteran Homeless Prevention and Demonstration Program. Puget Sound (Joint Base Lewis McChord) is one of five sites nationwide to implement the program in March of 2011.

Catholic Community Services provides the financial assistance

To date 173 Veterans have been served with 436 family members benefitting

81, OIF/OEF/OND (48%)

40 Women Veterans

29 Guard and Reserve

Supportive Services for Veterans and their Families

Under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, VA is awarding grants to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that provide services to very low-income Veteran families living in -- or transitioning to -- permanent housing. Those community organizations provide a range of services that promote housing stability among eligible very low income Veteran families

Puget Sound has four SSVF grantees. There are three grantees that serve Veterans living in Seattle and King County. We have SSVF services in other areas of Puget Sound.

HCHV Contract Residential

Provides funding for enriched residential care for Veterans who need safe shelter and services in order to stabilize or receive medical care. Veterans are often participating in intensive outpatient services.

Two contracts are in place through Puget Sound for a total of 32 beds.

Veterans can stay from 30-180 days.

Most transition to other VA housing programs.

VA Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Programs (MHRRTP)

Also known as the domiciliary

Puget Sound has a 64 bed facility located at American Lake

Most Veterans go for intensive treatment for PTSD or Substance abuse and stay for 30 days.

Veterans who are homeless can stay up to 6 months while they receive enriched vocational support

Goal is permanent housing and employment

Also located at American Lake are the Transitional Residences

5 single family homes located in the Tacoma/Pierce County area

24 Veterans can be served at any given time (one woman’s house)

Grant and Per Diem Housing

The Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program funds community-based agencies providing transitional housing or service centers for homeless Veterans.

Through the program, each year (as funding is available) VA offers grants that may fund up to 65 percent of the project for the construction, acquisition or renovation of facilities or to purchase vans to provide outreach and services to homeless Veterans.

274 units through Puget Sound (11 sites)

If Veterans stay 60 days they receive dental care

34 4

147

83

268

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Families Single Females Single Males Single Male or

Female

Total

VA Puget Sound Health Care System Grant and Per Diem Units

# of GPD units

Outcomes for transitional programs

VA tracks how many Veterans exit GPD and MHRRTP (homeless units only) and go into permanent housing

GPD outcomes are 65% our independently housed at d/c

MHRRTP outcomes are 62%

HUD/VASH

Permanent Supported Housing

Majority of the units in located in scattered sites (not projected units)

Targeting Veterans who are chronically homeless

Housing First Model

Pairs housing choice vouchers with VA Case Management Services

PierceCounty

Tacoma Seattle King County Bremerton Snohomish Thurston Bellingham SkagitPeninsula/Port Angeles

2008 35 0 53 52 0 0 0 0 0 0

2009 35 35 52 53 35 35 35 0 0 0

2010 25 25 60 60 0 25 0 25 0 0

2011 0 45 37 48 0 25 0 10 0 0

2012 25 25 58 57 0 75 0 0 25 25

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Nu

mb

er

of

Vo

uc

he

rs

VASH Vouchers Awarded by Housing Authority

Individuals and Families Served by the VA Puget Sound Health Care System HUD-VASH Program (2008 – 2012)

Female 230

Male 1044

Families 229

# of family members 341

Total Number of People Served 1844

Veterans served by Puget Sound’s VASH program who are “Chronically

Homeless”

Puget Sound has prioritized Veterans who are chronically homeless who have high acuity for the last three years.

Currently 68% of the Veterans served by HUD/VASH were chronically homeless before being successfully housed through HUD/VASH

The remaining 32% are Veterans with high acuity that have children or Veterans who are OIF/OEF or OND

Veterans served by Puget Sound’s VASH program who are “Chronically

Homeless”

Puget Sound has prioritized Veterans who are chronically homeless who have high acuity for the last three years.

Currently 68% of the Veterans served by HUD/VASH were chronically homeless before being successfully housed through HUD/VASH

The remaining 32% are Veterans with high acuity that have children or Veterans who are OIF/OEF or OND

VASH and Community Partnerships

Partnering with our local PHA’s and non-profit housing developers, and service providers to project base tenant based vouchers to serve the most acute and vulnerable Veterans

In Seattle and King County there are six sites

Sites typically have non-VA funding with enriched services

Sites average 8-10 vouchers per building

Sites mainly serve singles but two sites do serve Veteran families

Projects focus on certain populations (chronically mentally ill, elderly)

Additional Community Partnerships that support VASH

Landlord Liaison Project

The goal of LLP is to offer homeless individuals and families who were previously denied by landlords help with accessing permanent housing, signing leases and moving into otherwise vacant units. They are an important component of the HUD/VASH program

The program is managed by YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish and is funded through generous support from the City of Seattle, King County and the United Way of King County.

Continued / VASH

The State of Washington provides funding for furniture vouchers for Veterans moving into HUD/VASH units in Seattle and King County

King County Veterans provides move in assistance and rental assistance to Veterans moving into VASH units

King County Housing Authority has a last resort fund for Veterans needing financial assistance to move in to HUD/VASH units

Community set asides

In Seattle and King County several new buildings have been constructed for formally homeless individuals with specific set-asides for Veterans

Example: This year a Plymouth Housing opened up a building that has set asides for 60 Veterans. LIHI opened a second building that will serve at least 8 elderly Veterans.

Coordination with key community stakeholder

Seattle King County Veterans Consortium

Homeless Coalitions

COC’s

Integrated plans specific to each community

What does the VA bring to the table

Identifying the gaps

Requesting what you need

Challenge: Coordinating and aligning resources in multiple communities with very different geographic and political bases

Challenges

Right sizing housing and services for special populations

Approaches

Integrated information and education

Veterans Housing Options Group.

QUESTIONS?

Contact, Katherine Gerard

Katherine.Gerard@va.gov

206-412-6960