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

2. 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.

3. 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!

4. 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:

5. WHAT IS SSVF??

6. 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)

7. 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).

8. 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.

9. 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).

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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”.

14. 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

15. Area Median Income (AMI)

16. 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

17. 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)

18. 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.

19. 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

20. 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.

21. What is GPD??

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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

25. Contact Information
MARK HOUCK
CASE MANAGER
LIGHTHOUSE SOCIAL SERVICE CENTERS
1003 EAST COOLEY DR. SUITE 205
COLTON, CA 92324
(951) CELL
(951) EXT 803
(951) FAX

26. Sources of Information:
SSVF_Webinar_Series_Guidelines_for_SSVF_Grantees_Collaborating_with_HUD_VASH_and_GPD_
HUD_VASH_SSVF_Presentation_11713
Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Services for Veteran Families - Program Guide