Ending Veteran Homelessness in the Commonwealth of Virginia by the end of 2015

Ending Homelessness in the Commonwealth of Virginia Pamela Kestner Special Advisor on Families, Children, and Poverty Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources

Overall Goal: Reduce Homelessness By 15% 3

Homeless Outcomes Advisory Committee Report & Recommendations Goals: 1. Increase the number of permanent supportive housing units in the Commonwealth 2. Increase flexibility of funding to prevent homelessness and support Rapid Re-housing for individuals and families 3. Increase statewide data collection and system coordination 4. Increase access to substance abuse and mental health treatment 5. Improve discharge policies and procedures for foster care, hospitals, mental health facilities and correctional facilities

DRAFT State Plan to End Veteran Homelessness June 9, 2014 Ending Veteran Homelessness in Virginia – A Summit to Build a Comprehensive Action Plan

Strategy 1: Increase permanent supportive housing in the Commonwealth Major Theme 1: Permanent Supportive Housing and Housing First Jill Fox, Director of Programs and Evaluation, Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness Photo Courtesy of Virginia Supportive Housing

Strategy 1: Increase permanent supportive housing in the Commonwealth Major Theme 2: Targeting Resources to the Most Vulnerable Jeffrey Doyle, Network Homeless Coordinator, VA Mid-Atlantic Care Network (VISN 6), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Strategy 1: Increase permanent supportive housing in the Commonwealth Major Theme 3: Moving Veterans Into Housing Faster Kim Thomas, Client Services Director, Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority

Strategy 2: Increase flexibility of funding to prevent and end homelessness and support rapid re-housing for individuals and families Major Theme 1: Rapid Re-Housing Major Theme 2: Coordinated Assessment Kathy Robertson, Associate Director, Homeless and Special Needs Housing, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development

Strategy 3: Develop statewide data collection process that provides accurate and reliable data to effectively address homelessness statewide What We Know About Veterans Experiencing Homelessness in Virginia Matt Leslie, Acting Director, Housing Development for Veterans, Virginia Wounded Warrior Program, Virginia Department of Veterans Services

2014 Point-in-Time Overview O 617 counted (82 unsheltered) O 14 % decrease from last year O 34 % decrease since 2011 O 5 % increase for women veterans (increased from 66 to 83)

Statewide CoC Overview : Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2013 (Veterans that accessed homeless shelter system (HMIS providers only)*- Emergency or Transitional housing only) All veteransSingle veteransChronicDisability %30.4%49.4% AgesGender %Male89.4% %Female10.6% % *It does not include those that accessed non- HMIS shelter (eg. Rescue and Union Mission), unengaged unsheltered, and those that only accessed VAMC (eg. domiciliary programs, etc.) % % 2013 HMIS Overview

Statewide Estimate Number of Homeless Veterans from current - end of ,000-2,300* Estimated Number from Take-Down Target who Are Chronically Homeless Veterans that Need Permanent Supportive Housing Estimated Number from Take-Down Target who Are Homeless Veterans (Non-Chronic) that Need Rapid Re-Housing 1, Estimated Number of these Veterans who will end their homelessness w/out a targeted housing intervention Total Estimated Number of Veterans who will require PSH or other Targeted Housing Interventions to End Their Homelessness 1,300-1,495 * Estimates based on 2013 statewide HMIS data and CoC qualitative data Estimated Statewide Take Down Target to End Veteran Homelessness by End of 2015

Strategy 3: Develop statewide data collection process that provides accurate and reliable data to effectively address homelessness statewide Major Theme: Increasing data sharing among all critical stakeholders Kevin Morton, Health Care for Homeless Veterans Coordinator, D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center Yilla Smith, Continuum of Care Program Manager, The Planning Council

Strategy 4: Increase access to mental health and substance abuse treatment Major Theme 1: Veteran Specific Treatment and Support Resources Major Theme 2: Serving ALL veterans Brandi Jancaitis, Executive Director, Virginia Wounded Warrior Program, Virginia Department of Veterans Services

MISSION The Virginia Wounded Warrior Program (VWWP), in cooperation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services, monitors and coordinates behavioral health, rehabilitative services, and support through an integrated, comprehensive, and responsive system of public and private partnerships.

WHO WE SERVE The statewide program serves Veterans of any era, with any discharge status, through an extensive network of local, federal, and state partnerships. Any Virginia Veteran (do not have to be “wounded” to receive care coordination services) Members of the Virginia National Guard not on active federal service Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves not on active federal service Family members of these Veterans and service members

20 VWWP Goal: A Well Coordinated System of Care and Support for Our Veterans and Their Families through Partnerships Behavioral Healthcare Financial Assistance Housing Transportation Care Coordination Crisis intervention Employment Vocational Rehab Education Outreach

VWWP Direct Service Enhancement O Housing Resource Specialists in Richmond and Hampton O Provide dedicated outreach and care coordination services to at risk or homeless veterans and their families

Strategy 4: Increase access to mental health and substance abuse treatment Major Theme 2: Serving ALL veterans Brandi Jancaitis, Executive Director, Virginia Wounded Warrior Program, Virginia Department of Veterans Services

Strategy 5: Evaluate, develop, and ensure implementation of statewide, pre-discharge policies for the foster care system, mental health facilities, and correctional facilities Major Theme 1: Engaging Transitioning Service Members Major Theme 2: Workforce Development Andy Schwartz, Virginia Values Veterans Program Manager, Veterans Education, Training, and Employment, Virginia Department of Veterans Services