Veteran Homelessness in North Carolina Jeffrey Doyle, LISW Homeless Coordinator VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network

NC Overview HUD Point-in-Time Count. A national one day benchmark that is used as a data point for the number of homeless individuals in a community. Peaked in 2012 at 1413 total count 2016 count was 888 406 in transitional housing (391 VA Grant Per Diem) 324 in emergency shelter 158 unsheltered

HUD PIT 2016

Goal of Ending Veteran Homelessness Multiple communities in VISN 6 have joined either the White House/Mayoral Challenge or the Zero:2016 initiatives to end Veteran Homelessness. The US Interagency Council on Homelessness, (USICH) which the VA is a member, has created a definition that communities are being asked to use when making their announcement. It is important to recognize that these are community initiatives, the VA is a partner but not the lead.

USICH Benchmarks End Veteran Homelessness The goal of ending Veteran homelessness means that through a coordinated Federal and community response:   A system is in place to identify all Veterans experiencing homelessness. No Veterans are experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the community. Focus VHA Homeless Programs Operations at VAMC, VISN and National levels on achieving the VA strategic target End Veteran Homelessness KWH:

USICH Benchmarks cont. The community has the resources and plan to provide permanent housing opportunities to all Veterans. Permanent housing use the principles of Housing First; quick with low barriers. The community has a system in place to identify new and at-risk Veterans experiencing Homelessness. This includes adequate outreach, prevention and access to permanent housing. The community has a system in place to ensure the housing stability of formerly homeless veterans.

VA Resources Overview VAMC – The VA Medical Centers themselves act as a wrap around resource Outreach – each VAMC has outreach staff that engage and enroll veterans experiencing homelessness Grant Per Diem – Transitional residential beds operated by local non-profits HUD/VASH – permanent supportive housing vouchers administered by local Public Housing Authorities

What’s going on Accomplishment Mayoral Challenge Fayetteville, Winston-Salem and Durham (chronic) have meet USICH benchmarks Mayoral Challenge Over 50 communities across NC have joined Statewide Housing Boot Camp Focused on 6 communities to assist with the work already in those communities ‘Operation Home’ Task Force Sub-committee of the NC Governors Working Group

Coordinated Assessment Community Group/Teams collaborating The creation of the by-name list Creation of a community assessment plan. Collaborative referral process Housing Preference Pilot Project In the Asheville area we are working the Grant Per Diem programs to assist veterans from outside the community. This integrates a permanent housing discharge plan back to their home of origin if preferred.

Challenges Inflow of veterans into communities Affordable housing units Wake Charlotte Asheville Rural Issues – a lack of resources and established collaborations

North Carolina VA Contacts Name Location Phone Email Jeff Doyle VISN 919.956.5541 Jeffrey.Doyle@va.gov Lindsey Arledge Jordan Durham VAMC 919.286.0411 Ext. 6197 Lindsey.Arledge@va.gov Mary Fisher-Murray Fayetteville VAMC 910-488-2120 Ext. 5796 Mary.FisherMurray@va.gov Allison Bond Asheville VAMC 828-298-791 Ext 5506 Allison.Bond@va.gov Jennifer Herb Salisbury 704.638.9000 Ext. 3011 Jennifer.Herb@va.gov