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

2. 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

3. HUD PIT 2016

4. 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.

5. 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:

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

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

11. North Carolina VA Contacts
Name
Location
Phone
Jeff Doyle
VISN
Lindsey Arledge Jordan
Durham VAMC
Ext. 6197
Mary Fisher-Murray
Fayetteville VAMC
Ext. 5796
Allison Bond
Asheville
VAMC
Ext 5506
Jennifer Herb
Salisbury
Ext. 3011