LightHouse Social Service Centers Programs Overview Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF)/ Grant & Per Diem (GPD) Transitional Living

SSVF & GPD LightHouse Social Service Centers (LHSSC) Founded by Karyn Young-Lowe has a variety of resources available to serve homeless Veterans. It provides transitional and permanent housing solutions for Veterans through: Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program Grant and Per Diem(GPD) Program The primary aim of LHSSC through SSVF & GPD is to help Veteran families who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness, quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis and/or homelessness.

Housing First Housing First is the guiding approach the delivery of these services. It is the policy of the VA, strongly supported by HUD and USICH Remember, the essential idea of Housing First is that the need for housing is a basic need that should be met as quickly as possible, without any preconditions. Greatest barrier/need is for move-in assistance, utility assistance and rental deposits Collaboration and integration with our community partners is vital to our Veterans success!

HUD - VASH Program Overview HUD – VASH is a collaborative program between HUD and VA. Veterans receive VA provided case management and supportive services. HUD provides subsidized rental assistance in the form of a Housing Choice Voucher. VA determines eligibility for health care and if the veteran meets the definition of being chronically homeless. HUD determines income eligibility. HUD – VASH is a collaborative program between HUD and VA Veterans receive VA provided case management and supportive services to support stability and recovery from physical and mental health, substance use, and functional concerns contributing to or resulting from homelessness. HUD provides subsidized rental assistance in the form of a Housing Choice Voucher. Many of the requirements that pertain to other Section 8 voucher programs are waived. VA determines eligibility for health care and whether veteran meets the definition of being homeless. HUD determines income eligibility and whether or not veteran is on a lifetime sex offender registry. To see more from hud.gov go to: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/hcv/vash

WHAT IS SSVF??

Eligibility in the SSVF Program LightHouse SSC – SSVF Program Overview Supportive Services SSVF Participant Eligibility Determining Veteran Household Status and Eligibility Verifying Veteran Status Verifying Veteran Household Status Determining Income Eligibility Area Medium Income (AMI) Income Inclusions & Income Exclusions Determining Housing Status Eligibility Category 1 Eligibility (Homelessness Prevention) Categories 2 Eligibility (Rapid Re-Housing)

Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program Overview Through the supportive services available as part of the SSVF Program, LightHouse provides Housing Stability Services for Veteran Families with very low incomes in Riverside County and East and Mid Dessert San Bernardino County. (The Surge/Priority 1 Grant serves clients in the Eastern Valley of Riverside County).

Our Supportive Services Outreach Services Case Management Services Housing search and placement Financial & Nutrition Workshops Referrals to: legal services, vocational assistance, credit counseling, etc… Landlord support Limited Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) Assistance in Obtaining VA Benefits Assistance in Obtaining and Coordinating other Public Benefits Available in the Communities we serve.

SSVF Participant Eligibility To be an eligible household under the SSVF Program, the following conditions must be met: A member of a “Veteran family” “Very low-income” Household “Imminently at risk or literally Homeless” 3.1 Homelessness Prevention (HP)- Category 2 3.2 Rapid Re-housing (RRH) – Category 1 To be an eligible household under the SSVF Program, the following conditions must be met: 1. A member of a “Veteran family”: Either (a) a Veteran; or (b) a member of a family in which the head of household, or the spouse of the head of household, is a Veteran. 2. “Very low-income” Household: Income does not exceed 50% of area median income. 3. “Imminently at risk or literally Homeless” Homelessness Prevention – Homelessness prevention assistance is intended for eligible Veteran families who are imminently at-risk of becoming literally homeless but forSSVF assistance (permanent housing category 1). Targeting SSVF assistance in this manner helps ensure limited SSVF resources are directed to Veteran families most in need of assistance to avoid falling into literal homelessness (e.g., entering an emergency shelter). Rapid Re-housing – Rapid re-housing assistance is intended for eligible Veteran families who are literally homeless and may remain literally homeless but for SSVF assistance. Targeting SSVF assistance in this manner helps ensure limited SSVF resources are directed to Veteran families most in need of assistance to end their homelessness (e.g., exit an emergency shelter and obtain their own housing).

Determining Veteran Household Status Eligibility Eligible participants will be part of a “Veteran family,” meaning that the person to be served is either: a Veteran; or a member of a family in which the head of household, or the spouse of the head of household, is a Veteran. It does not matter the position of the Veteran in the Household, he/she will always be the HOH for our program.

Verifying Veteran Status “Veteran” is defined as “a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.” To prove a participant’s Veteran status, grantees should obtain at least one of the following documents: Veteran’s Department of Defense (DD) Form 214 Certificate of Release Discharge from Active Duty VBA Statement of Service (SOS) VHA Veteran’s Identity card VISTA printout from VHA healthcare provider Hospital Inquiry System (HINQS) VBA award letter of service connected disability payment or non-service connected pension Minimum 1 day of active duty Active days in training does not count as active duty Reserve and National guard are eligible only if they where activated. He active duty time can be determine by looking at the DD214 Note that bad conduct discharges are not the same as dishonorable, and as such, are eligible. Furthermore, for Veterans with multiple discharges, the best discharge status may be used for SSVF eligibility. Scan, print a DD214

Verifying Veteran Status cont. If such documents proving eligibility are not immediately available, an Affidavit of Veteran Status signed by the Veteran can be used to allow grantees to temporarily enroll Veterans who are Pending Verification of Veteran Status and initiate supportive services. However, temporary financial assistance (TFA) will not be provided until the grantee/Veteran can obtain documentation proving Veteran status. If the Veteran is not in possession of his or her DD Form 214, the grantee should assist the Veteran in submitting an SF-180, Request Pertaining to Military Records, to confirm the individual’s status.

Verifying Veteran Household Status A Household is defined as “all persons who together present for services and identify themselves as being part of the same household.“ We document head of household & household composition status on the form: “Self-declaration of Housing Status”.

Determining Income Eligibility The SSVF Program defines an eligible very low-income Veteran family as one whose annual income, does not exceed 50 percent of the median income for an area or community. We must establish the size of the Veteran family’s household to verify that the Veteran family meets the income eligibility requirement

Area Median Income (AMI)

Income “Inclusions" The following types of income must be counted (inclusions) when calculating annual income for SSVF eligibility purposes: Earned Income—Wages, Salaries, etc. for any adult member of the household (note: wages that are garnished are included as earned income) Self-Employment/Business Income Interest & Dividend Income Pension/Retirement Income Unemployment & Disability Income (excluding lump sum payments) TANF/Public Assistance, including the portion of the grant designated for child(ren) Alimony and Child Support Income Armed Forces Income G.I. Bill Housing Stipend

Income “Exclusions" The following types of income are NOT counted (exclusions) when calculating current gross income for SSVF eligibility purposes: Earned income of participant household members under age 18 years. Inheritance and Insurance Income Medical Expense Reimbursements Income of Live-in Aides Student Financial Aid, including G.I. Bill Student Financial Aid Armed Forces Hostile Fire Pay Self-Sufficiency Program Income Other Income (i.e. temporary, non-recurring or sporadic income)

Income “Exclusions“ cont. Reparations Income from full-time students (excluding head of household) Foster Care Income Adoption Assistance Payments Deferred and Lump Sum Social Security & SSI payments Income Tax and Property Tax refunds Home Care Assistance Other Federal Exclusions Remember, grantees are encouraged to assess all circumstances and document that the household would be homeless but for the SSVF assistance. Documentation of a Veteran family’s annual income and the percent of AMI that income represents must be maintained in the participant’s file as documentation of eligibility.

Determining Housing Status Eligibility Category 1 Eligibility (Homelessness Prevention) Homelessness prevention assistance is intended for eligible Veteran families who are imminently at-risk of becoming literally homeless “but for” SSVF assistance. Targeting SSVF assistance in this manner helps ensure limited SSVF resources are directed to Veteran families most in need of assistance to avoid falling into or experiencing literal homelessness. All participants applying for SSVF assistance must undergo a housing status eligibility determination. Note that these Veteran families include “couch surfing” households (defined as homeless under the HEARTH Act). Pg 26(29) Program Guide www.facebook.com/self.sufficiency

Determining Housing Status Eligibility Category 2 Eligibility (Rapid Re-Housing) SSVF’s rapid re-housing assistance is intended for eligible Veteran families who are literally homeless. Persons qualifying as “literally homeless” include persons who at the time of application or reassessment lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence Staying in a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, including a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground; OR  Staying in a supervised publicly- or privately-operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements (including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state, or local government programs for low-income individuals); OR  Exiting an institution where he or she resided for 90 days or less and who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution.

What is GPD??

Grant & Per Diem VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program is offered annually (as funding permits) by the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Programs to fund community agencies providing services to homeless Veterans. The purpose is to promote the development and provision of supportive housing and/or supportive services with the goal of helping homeless Veterans achieve residential stability, increase their skill levels and/or income, and obtain greater self-determination.

LightHouse’s Role Our transitional living program is housed in a 4-unit apartment building. Each apartment has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. There is a large living room area and eat-in kitchen in each apartment. The separate apartment living arrangement allows for a home environment that each veteran is responsible for maintaining. Four residents share an apartment and are responsible for cooking, cleaning and maintaining their community unit. One apartment houses the agency reception area, staff office, group area and the living quarters for the on-site facility manager. The facility is in walking distance from public transportation. LightHouse also provides transportation to assist veteran residents with getting to VA appointments, job interviews and other community resources.

Program Overview Comprehensive Transitional Living Services On-Site Case Management Services On-Site Group Experiences A Drug and Alcohol Free Environment Services to Veterans with Mental Illness Vocational and Employment Support Services Life Skills Development A Peer-Oriented Supportive Environment Medical and Mental Health Services Provided Through the Loma Linda VA Medical Center

Contact Information MARK HOUCK CASE MANAGER LIGHTHOUSE SOCIAL SERVICE CENTERS 1003 EAST COOLEY DR. SUITE 205 COLTON, CA 92324 (951) 235-2274 CELL (951) 571-3533 EXT 803 (951) 963-1277 FAX markh@lighthouse-ssc.org www.lighthouse-ssc.org www.facebook.com/self.sufficiency

Sources of Information: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/images/hudimg?id=hudlogo.jpg SSVF_Webinar_Series_Guidelines_for_SSVF_Grantees_Collaborating_with_HUD_VASH_and_GPD_6122014 HUD_VASH_SSVF_Presentation_11713 Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Services for Veteran Families - Program Guide