1. collaborative relationships in rural settings WESTERN PA - LCCAP
2018

2. Lawrence county social services, inc. Snapshot of Capacity
Who we are:
LCSS, Inc. is a non profit organization and has been building capacity since The agency was designated as a Community Action Agency in LCCAP currently consists of a compliment of 280 total employees, providing over 8,000 citizens with critical services in response to the economic, social and educational needs of many communities
Communities Served:
Expansion of services beyond Lawrence County through regional and statewide partnerships and now administers programs in 27+ counties across
Vastly Rural population
Types of Services:
Veteran housing programs and Civilian housing programs (14 programs- Funded by or in part through CoC, VA, DCED)
Education, employment, transportation, health, healthy homes, and childcare.
Coordinated Entry

3. LCCAP Regional Housing Programs

4. VETERAN PARTNERSHIPS IN A RURAL SETTING
Geography Served:
20 Counties within the CoC (7 Southwest, 13 Northwest)
15,000+ square miles
Shelter beds are limited, and sometimes non-existent, in some areas. There are 643 shelter beds in the entire CoC (1 shelter bed for every 23 square miles).
Communities Served within PA 601:
2 RHABs
5 VAMCs
5 SSVF Grantees with overlapping areas
Communities Served Grant Wide
Above 3 bullets and 3 additional CoC’s (2 Entitlements) 2 additional counties, RHABS, 1 VAMC :

5. VETERAN PARTNERSHIPS IN A RURAL SETTING

6. VETERAN PARTNERSHIPS IN A RURAL SETTING
Goal: Ending Veteran (ALL) Homelessness in conjunction with the CoC’s Strategic Plan
Strategic Plan- 
The primary goal of this strategic plan is a 50% reduction in the number of people experiencing homelessness in the Western PA CoC by 2021.
Outcome: Reduce the duration of homelessness to an average of 50 days or less over the next five years, with a long-range goal is to reduce this average to 30 days or less.
Coordinated Entry System- absolving the Veteran Master List – one all inclusive list
Common goals begets natural partnerships!
Getting Started:
Start Date:
“Unofficial”: Fall of 2014 SSVF Grantees with overlapping service areas – roundtable discussions, ROIs
“Official” Fall TA provided through DCED – Doug Tetralut TAC, Inc.
Starting Numbers: 132
Tools: Go to Meetings, HMIS -BNL/CES

7. VETERAN PARTNERSHIPS IN A RURAL SETTING
Who is leading the way?
SSVF forged the way – opened up discussions and got the ball rolling! DCED (HMIS administrator) Technical Support TAC, Inc., PA 601 CoC Veteran Subcommittee, VISN 4 Homeless Coordinator, SSVF Regional Coordinator, VAMC’s Homeless and VASH Coordinators, VA Peer Support Specialist
Who Do We Collaborate with:
Locally: County agencies, local Veteran organizations- Stand Down, American Legions, VFW’s , DV providers, local drop in shelters
Regionally: VAMC’s , CoC’s, CAP Agencies, DCED, Regional Partners
Strategy: Contact your CoC- get to know the players and stakeholders.
Good old fashioned communication sharing common goals.
Ask: ”How Can I help you achieve our common goal?”
Veteran Master List (BNL) embedded into HMIS
Daily/Weekly calls with the VA’s, providing technical assistance. Formal trainings being mobile- and flexible, Have a “plan b”

8. VETERAN PARTNERSHIPS IN A RURAL SETTING
Current Numbers:
70- total on the Veteran Master List (BNL)
37 in GPD beds
33 sheltered/unsheltered
Currently 3/5 VAMCs entering HOMES data/info on BNL 5/5 participating on Veteran Subcommittee Call, Scrub Call , Bi-monthly calls/meetings
23 total in Coordinated Entry System
difference of 10
Coordinated Entry officially underway January 2018, currently one VAMC is slated to enter data and complete assessments
Layering partners continuously

9. VETERAN PARTNERSHIPS IN A RURAL SETTING
Lessons Learned:
VA internal structures are NOT all the same- take what you can get- when you can get it!
Layering of services/practices- will eventually morph into what you need it to become- knowing when to add partners and practices
The bigger picture:
Build your foundation first- it needs to be solid
Good old fashioned communication and of sharing common goals.
Ask: ”How Can I help YOU achieve our common goal?”
Be open and set the tone for learning not for compliance
Think: “ The whole is greater than the sum of its PARTS”
Not one entity is responsible to end homelessness- we need to work together to achieve the overarching goal- everyone wins!
Coordinated Entry will expand opportunities for our homeless veterans

10. For Further Information, Please Contact Us:
Contact Information
For Further Information, Please Contact Us:
P.O. Box 189 • 241 W. Grant Street
New Castle, PA 16103
Missy Russell
Regional Veteran Services Coordinator
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