New Hampshire Statewide Efforts to End Veteran Homelessness

Federal Effort to End Homelessness Among Veterans Douglas Tetrault, Technical Assistance Collaborative

Articulating System Achievement: The Federal Criteria & Benchmarks An end to homelessness does not mean that no one will ever experience a housing crisis again. An end to homelessness means that every community will have a systematic response in place that ensures homelessness is prevented whenever possible or is otherwise a rare, brief, and non-recurring experience.

Operational Definition of an End to Homelessness Quickly identify and engage people at-risk of and experiencing homelessness. Intervene to prevent the loss of housing and divert people from entering the homelessness services system. Provide immediate access to shelter and crisis services, without barriers to entry, while permanent stable housing and appropriate supports are being secured. When homelessness does occur, quickly connect people to housing assistance and services—tailored to their unique needs, strengths and desires—to help them achieve and maintain stable housing. Tom

Federal Criteria for Ending Veteran Homelessness The community has identified all veterans experiencing homelessness. The community provides shelter immediately to any veteran experiencing unsheltered homelessness who wants it. The community provides service-intensive transitional housing only in limited instances. The community has capacity to assist veterans to swiftly move into permanent housing. The community has resources, plans, and system capacity in place should any veteran become homeless or be at risk of homelessness in the future

Federal Benchmarks for Ending Veteran Homelessness Chronic and long-term homelessness among veterans has been ended. Veterans have quick access to permanent housing. The community has sufficient permanent housing capacity. The community is committed to housing first and provides service-intensive transitional housing to veterans experiencing homelessness only in limited instances.

Systems require System Strategies Integrate Coordinated Entry across CoC and VA Sufficient and immediate access to low barrier shelter for all Veterans Master list and case conferencing development, maintenance and use control Scaling up rapid re-housing and other housing interventions and options, including non-VA housing Targeted, prioritized use of HUD-VASH and PSH Systems require System Strategies -Again, regardless of the goal you are pursuing, there are strategies that every community should be implementing or working to implement. SSVF expects grantees to be actively involved in planning and implementation efforts related to these strategies and the goals they seek to achieve.

System require System Strategies Housing First approach (system and program-level) GPD and TH inventory strategically used Targeting homelessness prevention assistance Focused diversion efforts at front door Partnerships inclusive of non-housing community service partners, including healthcare, income and other supports

Communities apply to USICH, VA and HUD using narrative and data entered into template Application articulates all aspect of crisis response for Veterans, including partnerships, coordination and data Requires multiple data points and buy-in from all key stakeholders USICH, HUD and VA review, ask questions and determine if vision of Criteria and Benchmarks met If successful, community provided written confirmation from Federal partners Confirmation assumes efforts will be sustained (Not an end goal, rather a set of minimum standards for ongoing improvement) Claim Process

New Hampshire Statewide Efforts to End Veteran Homelessness

Map of NH NH Continuums of Care: Balance of State Greater Nashua Manchester

Working together to End Veteran Homelessness Through monthly COC meetings in Manchester, Nashua and Concord (the Balance of State--BOS) as well as Local Service Delivery Areas (LSDA) in Belknap, Carroll, Sullivan and Coos counties, veterans experiencing, or at risk of experiencing homelessness are brought to the attention and reviewed by the agencies that can most quickly and efficiently get them both supportive services and housing. Balance of State, Manchester and Greater Nashua COCs have unanimously endorsed the Ending Veteran Homelessness initiative as a priority, having dedicated subcommittees to coordinate efforts. Members of all 3 veterans subcommittees began meeting together in November 2017 to coordinate unified and strategic planning toward this statewide goal.

Working together to End Veteran Homelessness Through the COCs and 211, a coordinated entry system is in place that recognizes and prioritizes veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The Bureau of Homelessness and Housing hosts a biweekly phone meeting of stakeholders throughout NH . A hybrid group of policy makers and direct service providers: representatives of Veteran Service Organization, VA Homeless Programs (SSVF, HUD-VASH, HCHV, GPD), the three NH Continua of Care, health and human services agencies, homeless service providers, the Office of the Governor, and numerous state and federal agencies who serve veterans--formed to create policies and implement processes that would meet the federal benchmark to effectively end veteran homelessness in NH. Working together to End Veteran Homelessness

Statewide Coordinated Entry 211/ regional access point Prevention/ Diversion Tool Identified household immediately sent to veteran housing providers Immediate veteran contact by providers, electronic follow up with housing plan. Offer of PH intervention first Provider meets with veteran household for permanent housing Statewide Coordinated Entry Once identified, there are unique, robust housing programs and supports available for veterans who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness:

#1: Community has identified all veterans experiencing homelessness Federal Criteria Data through the statewide Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) is reviewed daily, and the Veterans By Name List is updated weekly for all providers. Street/woods outreach is conducted with multiple streams of funding/partnerships; SSVF, VA, PATH, Parks and Rec, towns SSVF and VA have stations at emergency shelters and other homeless service locations for increased response and identification of veterans experiencing homelessness Ask the Question campaign- changing the language for increased identification in a variety of settings All veteran definitions included through various funding streams Veterans unsheltered or in programs not entered into HMIS updated on biweekly calls and housing plan tracked

#2: Community provides shelter immediately to any veteran experiencing homelessness who wants it. Veterans identified through 211 instantly connected to housing providers Housing First and low barrier options presented to Veterans through SSVF, HUD-VASH, ESG, COC programs. If PH is not immediately available, emergency and temporary housing is located. For those denying services, dynamic and continued outreach strategies provided using evidenced based methods of engagement. Federal Criteria

#3: Community provides service intensive transitional housing only in limited instances As 211 is central point for CE, assessments are sent to a spectrum of housing providers, ensuring that PH with supportive services is offered first, prior to entry into transitional housing, but that veterans have a choice of where they want to be. SSVF has shared intake coordinator with GPD to prioritize PH offers. If Veteran chooses transitional over PH, strengths based housing plans created to address barriers and provide support in planning for permanent housing. Weekly wrap around meetings with community providers, SSVF, GPD, HVRP and VA staff (VASH, HPACT, GPD liaison, employment) to ensure residents are connected to services. SSVF and HVRP has staff co-located at GPD facilities for central planning with veterans, targeting permanent and sustainable housing. Federal Criteria

#4: The community has capacity to assist veterans to swiftly move into housing Targeted efforts with all Grant and Per Diem programs to reduce length of stay and use a housing first, low demand model. Average length of stay in 2014= 304 days, 2018=158 days Housing options include: project-based and scattered private rentals, with subsidies/services offered through the following: Financial Assistance through SSVF that leads to PH HUD-VASH vouchers Section 8/ other mainstream programming (i.e. affordable housing based on income) Homeless Housing and Access Revolving Loan Fund (HHARLF) Other PH programming, such as HUD-funded housing, Housing Bridge Subsidy Program, HOPWA, ESG/RRH Non-income based programs that include supportive services for honorable and other than honorable discharge status: Permanent Supportive Housing, Easter Seals’ Veterans Count Federal Criteria

#5: The community has resources, plans and system capacity in place should any veteran become homeless or be at risk of homelessness in the future. Statewide Diversion Tool; Divert from entering into homelessness service system, and when homelessness does occur, quickly connect them to housing assistance and services. Services allow for re-engagement Wrap around meetings New infrastructure: Harbor Homes with the collaborative efforts of The Bridge House and Alex Ray of The Common Man, have begun construction on 30 units of permanent housing for 25 single veterans and 5 families to be opened by December 2018. Federal Criteria

Chronic and long term homelessness among veterans has been ended Veterans have quick access to permanent housing Community has sufficient permanent housing capacity The community has committed to Housing First and provides service- intensive transitional housing to veterans experiencing homelessness only in limited instances. Federal Benchmarks

These strategic efforts have brought down veterans experiencing homelessness from a high of 629 veterans in October 2011, to our present monthly averages of 24 in BOS, 16 in Manchester and 1 in Greater Nashua. Outcomes Data slide after first bullet

In March 2017, Greater Nashua was recognized by USICH in achieving an effective end to veteran homelessness! COC, leadership effort 2015-biweekly calls hosted by governor’s office Https://vimeo.com/240716667 Integrated services with unconventional partnerships GNCOC Preference for Homeless Veterans – mainstream housing program 24/7 Homeless Veteran HOTLINE Housing Authority partnerships with veteran transitional preference vouchers (25 vouchers awarded) Public Help – social media, newspapers, emails, phone calls, published media asking for public to call if they see or know of any homeless veterans in their community. SS, Youth

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