Serving the New Veteran: Virginia s Mission Brandi Jancaitis Director of Housing Development Virginia Department of Veteran Services Matt Leslie Associate Director of Housing Development Virginia Department of Veteran Services 1
VETERANS IN VIRGINIA Virginia has approximately 837,051 veterans 1 in every 10 citizens is a veteran, 1 in 5 in Hampton Roads By 2016 Virginia is projected to have the 4 th largest veteran population in the nation Virginia ranks seventh among the states in total veteran population and fourth in younger veterans (age 20 49) Virginia has the second largest ratio of women veterans to total veterans, 16% VDOE: nearly 230,000 children in Virginia have military ties; 75,000 schoolage Governor s goal is to become the most veteran-friendly state 2
Spectrum of Homelessness: Guides Services Delivery Unsheltered: Disabled/Chronically homeless Housing 1 st (Housing choice/hud VASH vouchers), MH/SA treatment, Support services, and Employment (HVRP)/Disability Income Sheltered: GPD, Employment/CWT/Vocational training, Access to care/family services, Financial assistance (housingrelated deposits/ssvf/vwwp), VA benefits, and Peer/Family support At risk: Employment/Vocational training, Financial assistance, Financial/Legal counseling (homelessness prevention funding/ssvf/vwwp), VA benefits, and Peer/Family support *Ensure service goals are person-centered and embrace individuality
1000 Number of Veterans Experiencing Homelessness In Virginia January PIT Count (23% reduction from 2011-2013) 800 931 881 600 768 727 719 625 Total 400 Sheltered Unsheltered 200 0 163 154 2011 2012 2013 94 4
Strategic Initiatives and Plans Federal Fed. Strategic Plan Opening Doors (USICH) VA 2015 Goal Synergistic Planning CHALENG Data HOMES Homeless Registry Grant & Per Diem SSVF HUD HMIS, PIT & HI Counts VASH Allocation ESG DoL America s Heroes at Work, VETS program grants (HVRP, IVTP, VWIP, Female Vet/Family Reintegration) DoD Transitional Wounded Warrior Programs Surplus federal property Integrated Approach to Ending Veteran Homelessness State Gov. s Executive Orders #10 Housing (4/10) #29 Veterans Employment (12/10) Homeless Outcomes Coordinating Council Reports: Housing Policy Framework Homeless Outcomes Advisory Comm. Report JLARC: Reducing Veteran Homelessness Virginia Prisoner and Juvenile Offender Re-Entry Council Report Housing Trust Fund Freddie Mac Foundation Grant VISN Summits CHALENG Process Continuum of Care Plans Annual Action Plan Local/Regional Coordinated/Centralized Intake CRRC (DC) Freedom Support Center (Hampton) Virginia Wounded Warrior Program HMIS PIT & HI Counts
Veteran-Friendly Virginia Department of Veterans Services DVS Director and Associate Director positions promote and coordinate an integrated system of care (Federal, State, and Local) to end veteran homelessness Partner with VA Medical Centers (HCHV, HUD VASH, GPD programs) Collaborate with Federal homeless program grantees (SSVF, Non-VAMC GPD, Continuum of Care, HVRP) Partner with other state agencies to decrease services barriers for Virginia Veterans (DMV, DSS, VEC, DCJS, DOC, DHCD, VDH) Coordinate VWWP direct services implementation and technical assistance 10
Capacity Building & Coordination Examples Serve on the Homeless Outcomes Coordinating Council with other state agencies to improve services for at-risk and homeless veterans Promote and participate in Continuum of Care meetings statewide (DVS, VWWP, VSO s etc.) Provide technical assistance to direct service providers: information on available veteran-specific resources, best practices for service delivery, veteran data, grant opportunities, and letters of support to enhance services 11
Data Driven Solutions: What We Know CoC Annual PIT Counts: Sheltered, Unsheltered, Women Veterans Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) for Veterans Veteran Affairs Supportive Services for Veterans Families Program (SSVF) HUD-VASH National Call Center for Homeless Veterans 12
Data Driven Solutions: What We Need To Know Service Era: Vietnam, Operation Iraq Freedom (OIF), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), etc. Household Composition: Individual, two-parent household, single-parent household Linkage between demographics, needs, and geographic location 13
VWWP Direct Service Snap Shot (April 2013) 132 16% 203 25% 104 13% 209 26% 162 20% VA BENEFITS/Medical/GI BILL MH OR FAMILY COUNSELING EMPLOYMENT/FINANCIAL/HOU SING OTHER SUPPORT
Opportunities for Increased Collaboration Increase Data Sharing Housing Status Homeless Services Providers Community Behavioral Health Providers (e.g. Virginia Wounded Warrior Program) Reentry Services (DOC, DSS) Understanding the Needs of Veteran Families SSVF, CoC, VA Homeless Call Center Leveraging Employment Resources (VEC) 15
Brandi Jancaitis, MPH Director, Housing Development for Veterans Virginia Department of Veterans Services Brandi.jancaitis@dvs.virginia.gov Matt Leslie, MSW Associate Director, Housing Development for Veterans Virginia Department of Veterans Services Matthew.leslie@dvs.virginia.gov 16
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