Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Health Care System Homeless Program Al Hernandez, MSW, LCSW

Today’s Agenda Prevalence and risk of homelessness among Veterans President Obama and VA Secretary Shinseki’s goal to end homelessness among Veterans by 2015 Transitional and permanent housing programs for Veterans 2

Prevalence and risk of homelessness among Veterans Why are Veterans Homeless? Shortage of affordable housing Underemployed or unemployed Some military occupations aren’t always transferable to the civilian workforce Mental Health issues Substance Abuse issues Lack of family support networks 3

Plan to End Homelessness Among Veterans The President and Secretary are committed to ending homelessness among Veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is taking decisive action toward its goal of ending homelessness among our nation’s Veterans. To achieve this goal VA has developed the Plan to End Homelessness Among Veterans. VA is committed to eliminating homelessness among Veterans by 2015; this initiative sets the elimination of homelessness as the goal in order to energize government agencies to do all they can. Anything short of that goal is unacceptable. 4

One of the Secretary’s highest priorities A Veteran-centric “no wrong door” approach Right-size existing programs and services and develop new initiatives that promotes transformation efforts and optimize the six integrated pillars of VA’s Plan: 1.Community Partnerships 2.Outreach/Education 3.Prevention Services 4.Treatment Services 5.Housing/Supportive Services 6.Income/Employment/Benefits VA’s Comprehensive Plan to End Homelessness Among Veterans 5

Community Partnerships Outreach / Education VA and the following agencies have formed a task force to end chronic homelessness among Veterans in Salt Lake County: The Road Home Shelter State Community Services Office Volunteers of America Housing Authority of Salt Lake City Housing Authority of the County of Salt Lake Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 6

Community Partnerships Outreach / Education VA is also partnering with the following agencies to end homelessness among Veterans throughout the state of Utah: St.Anne’s Shelter Ogden Rescue Mission Dixie Care and Share Shelter Iron County Care and Share Shelter Homeless Veterans Fellowship Ark of Little Cottonwood First Step House Catholic Community Services 7

Community Partnerships Outreach / Education VA is involved in the following outreach: Shelters Encampments / viaducts in partnership with VOA Panhandling program (HOST) in partnership with SLC Police Dept SLC Police Mobile Command Center Jails Prisons SLC Library Homeless Day Centers zz 8

Community Partnerships Outreach / Education Continued….. State Homeless Coordinating Committee Local Homeless Coordinating Committees Directors Committee on Preventing and Eliminating Veteran Homelessness VA Medical Units VA Psychiatric Unit VA Substance Abuse Unit National Call Center for Homeless Veterans 9

VASLCHCS: Male: 93.9%, Female: 6.1%

VASLCHCS: 65: 8.1%

12 VASLCHCS: 2012 Serious Medical Problems Reported: 76.7%

VASLCHCS: Serious Psyc Dx: 75.3%, Any SA Dx: 56.7%, Dual Dx: 45.8%, Serious Psyc or SA DX: 86.1%, Past Psyc Hospitalization: 46.9%

Treatment Programs / Housing VASLCHCS Homeless Program is comprised of a multidisciplinary clinical team of professionals. Licensed Clinical Social Workers Certified Social Workers Psychologist Registered Nurse Mental Health Associate Peer Support Provider Vocational Development Specialist Program Support Assistant 14

15

Treatment Programs / Housing Psychosocial Assessment Chief Complaint: Living Situation: Educational/Financial/Work History: Support System: Religious, Spiritual, or Cultural Views: Developmental History: Sexual Orientation and Functioning: Legal History: Medical History: Substance Abuse History: Psychiatric History: Assessment/Diagnosis: Mental Status: Multiaxial Assessment: Plan: Clinical Reminder Activity: 16

Treatment Programs / Housing Housing and Urban Development and Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program Grant & Per Diem (GPD) Program 17

18 Treatment Programs / Housing Housing and Urban Development and Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program provides supportive services and permanent supportive housing for homeless Veterans who require these supports to live independently. VA and HUD currently provide funding for 350 vouchers to five housing authorities: Housing Authority of Salt Lake City: 155 vouchers Housing Authority of the County of Salt Lake: 140 vouchers Housing Authority of the City of Ogden: 30 vouchers Housing Authority of St.George: 10 vouchers Housing Authority of the City of Pocatello: 15 vouchers 18

19 Treatment Programs / Housing HUD-VASH “Chronic” Prioritization The term `chronically homeless' means, with respect to an individual or family, that the individual or family— (i) is homeless and lives or resides in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter; (ii) has been homeless and living or residing in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter continuously for at least 1 year or on at least 4 separate occasions in the last 3 years; and (iii) has an adult head of household (or a minor head of household if no adult is present in the household) with a diagnosable substance use disorder, serious mental illness, developmental disability, post traumatic stress disorder, cognitive impairments resulting from a brain injury, or chronic physical illness or disability, including the co- occurrence of 2 or more of those conditions. 19

Treatment Programs / Housing Grant and Per Diem (GPD) residential treatment programs provide supportive services and transitional housing to homeless Veterans struggling with issues pertaining to physical health, mental health, substance abuse, and other socioeconomic problems. 20

Treatment Programs / Housing Supportive Services may include: Mental Health Treatment Substance Abuse Services Case Management Services Assistance with obtaining benefits Health Care Nutritional Advice Assistance with obtaining permanent housing Vocational Assistance Recreation Therapy 21

Treatment Programs / Housing Grant & Per Diem Program Regulations: –Veterans must be provided a clean and sober environment. –Residential supervision must be provided 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. –Veterans are required to engage in case management and other supportive services. –Each quarter the GPD-funded program is required to provide a technical performance report of how they have met the goals and objectives as stated in the original grant proposal. 22

Treatment Programs / Housing VASLCHCS Homeless Program currently provides clinical oversight and funding for the daily operations of 244 GPD beds/units that are operated by four community-based agencies. 23

Treatment Programs / Housing Housing Authority of Salt Lake City: Freedom Landing: 61 beds/units Sunrise Metro Apartments: 20 beds/units Valor Apartments: 13 beds/units Valor House: 72 beds/units Homeless Veterans Fellowship: 40 beds/units Catholic Community Services: St.Mary’s Center for Recovery: 20 beds/units First Step House: 18 beds/units 24

Treatment Programs / Housing FY12 - Average Length of GPD Episode 288 days or 9.6 months 25

Treatment Programs / Housing Where do Veterans live after discharge from GPD? Senior Housing - affordable housing option but you must be of a certain age or be disabled Tax Credit Properties - affordable housing units set aside for those who meet low income criteria Property Management Groups – agencies that may be able to help you find a rental in a particular area, or under a certain price range Rental Finders - agencies that may be able to help you find more affordable housing units that are specific to your needs for a small fee Single Room Occupancies and Hotels - multiple-tenant building that houses one or two people in individual rooms Housing Websites – KSL, Craigslist, Housing Authorities, etc 26