Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Webinar Series - PowerPoint Presentation

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Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Webinar Series

Program Updates and

Predictors of Homelessness Following Exit from the SSVF Program

November 20, 2014Slide2

Presenters

Sandra Foley

,

SSVF Supervisor Regional Coordinator Craig McKaige, SSVF Program Support AssistantThomas Byrne, PhD, Investigator at the National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Assistant Professor at the Boston University School of Social Work

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Webinar Format

Webinar

will last approximately 1.5 hours

Participants’ phone connections are “muted” due to the high number of callersQuestions can also be submitted anytime to SSVF@va.gov3Slide4

QUESTIONS…

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Submit questions and comments via the Questions panel

YourSlide5

Research Brief

Predictors

of Homelessness Following Exit from the SSVF

ProgramThomas Byrne, PhD5Slide6

SSVF Evaluation

Two main questions :

How many Veterans experience homelessness following exit from SSVF?

To what extent are Veteran characteristics, SSVF program factors, and community level housing market characteristics associated with an increased/decreased risk of homelessness following SSVF exit? Study conducted using SSVF program data (collected by grantees) and VA National Homeless Registry 6Slide7

SSVF Evaluation Cohort

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Identifying Homelessness Following SSVF Exit

Homeless episode included:

Record of completion of HOMES assessment

HOMES record of entry into a VA specialized homeless program Record of use of SSVF rapid rehousing servicesKey shortcoming: Will only identify users of VA homeless services 8Slide9
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Results

Prevention

Rapid Rehousing

Veterans in Families

Single Veterans

Veterans in Families

Single Veterans

1 Year

2 Year

1 Year

2 Year

1 Year

2 Year

1 Year

2 Year

Primary analytic sample

6.5

10.9

10.3

17.9

9.4

15.5

16.0

26.6

Prior studies looking at returns to homelessness among persons exiting shelter show that 46% of single adults and 22% of families return to shelter within 2 yearsSlide11

Results

Age

a risk factor for singles, but not families (44-54 at highest risk)

Males at increased risk among singlesPrior history of homelessness increased riskUse of VA healthcare in previous yearstrong predictor of increased riskExit to VASH or other permanentdecreased

riskRental assistance

increased

risk (prevention only)

Security deposit &utility

payment

decreased

risk (single RR only)

Participation>90

days

decreased

risk (family RR only)

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Results

Community housing market characteristics generally

not

significant predictors of risk of homelessness following SSVF exitTwo exceptions: % vacant housing unitssmall in risk of homelessness ONLY among single Veterans receiving prevention % renter householdssmall in risk of homelessness ONLY among single Veterans receiving prevention

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Conclusions & Next steps

Findings

that

only a small % of Veterans who received SSVF assistance experienced an episode of homelessness is promisingMore in depth analysis of SSVF program factorsMore rigorous comparative effectiveness designUse HMIS data from 1 or more communities to identify Veterans who may have been missed with VA dataQuestions About the Study? Thomas.Byrne@va.gov

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SSVF Updates

Program Guide Revisions

Annual Monitoring (UMP) Updates

Grantee Orientation GuideVeteran Consumer Surveys (TruthPoint)14Slide15

Program Guide

Has

force for oversight, auditing and program review

purposesIs to be used by applicants to the SSVF Program, grantees, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) staff members, and other interested third parties involved in the SSVF Program. Is intended to be consistent with SSVF Program regulations (38 CFR Part 62), and other applicable laws, Executive Orders, OMB Circulars, and VA regulations. In the event of a conflict between the Program Guide and VA regulations, applicable laws, OMB Circulars, or Executive Orders, such regulations, laws, OMB Circulars, or Executive Orders shall control. Guidelines should not be construed to supersede, rescind, or otherwise amend such laws, Executive Orders, OMB Circulars, and regulations. Slide16

Regulations

Federal Register Publications

November

10, 2010 Final Rule 38 CFR 62December 17. 2010 NOFA - $60 million December 1, 2011 NOFA - $100 million

October 26, 2012 NOFA - $300 million

January 14, 2014

NOFA-

$600

million

Includes

Priority 1 non renewable 3 year awards

Applicable OMB

Circulars

A-133

A-122

Agency grant application, as approved by SSVF

Program OfficeInclude ResolutionsSlide17

Regulations

Federal Register Publications pending responses

May 9, 2014:

Proposed Final Rule 38 CFR 62Closed for public comment June 23, 2014 October 10, 2014: NOFA- $93 millionPriority 1 non-renewable 3 year awards

Applications due December 5, 2014 at 4 pm ESTSlide18

Program Guide Updates

Grantees must use a minimum of 60 percent of supportive services grant funds to serve

very low-income

Veteran families who either (i) are homeless and scheduled to become residents of permanent housing within 90 days pending the location or development of housing suitable for permanent housing or (ii) have exited permanent housing within the previous 90 days to seek other housing that is responsive to their needs and preferences - as per 38 CFR 62.2(a).

Waivers to this 60 percent requirement may be requested when grantees can demonstrate significant local progress towards eliminating homelessness in the target service area. Waiver requests must include data from authoritative sources such as HUD’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report, annual Point-In-Time Counts and evidence of decreased demand for emergency shelter and transitional housing. Waivers for the 60 percent requirement may also be requested for services provided to rural Indian tribal areas and other rural areas where shelter capacity is insufficient to meet local

need.

Rapid Re-Housing Assistance Slide19

Program Guide Updates

SSVF

grantees work in coordinated partnership with their local Continuums of Care (

CoCs). A CoC is a community plan to organize and deliver housing and services to meet the needs of all people who experience homelessness in a given community. SSVF grantees engage as active members in each and every CoC that lies within their SSVF jurisdiction. SSVF grantees formally participate in planning the local coordinated intake and assessment processes, which each CoC establishes for itself, for how all households experiencing homelessness access homeless assistance services and are matched with best fit resources. SSVF grantees are responsible for ensuring that SSVF is formally integrated into this local

CoC process.

Continuum

of Care (

CoC

) Coordination Slide20

Program Guide Updates

VA policy supports a ‘‘Housing First’’ approach in addressing and ending

homelessness, where housing

stability is the primary intervention in working with homeless persons. The Housing First approach is informed by research demonstrating that a homeless individual or household’s first and primary need is to obtain stable housing, and that other issues impacting the household can and should be addressed as housing is obtained. Research supports this approach as an effective means to end homelessness. Under Housing First, housing is not contingent on compliance with support services. Instead, participants must comply with a standard lease agreement and are provided with the services and supports that are necessary to help them do so successfully.

Housing FirstSlide21

Policy Update: Eligibility

3/31/2014 VA Memorandum

Veterans do not presently also have to be VHA eligible

Legal opinion requestedIn meantime, grantees may serve Veterans per requirements in effect prior to December 2013Period covered when VHA eligibility was required12/19/2013 to 3/31/2014 Note: Veterans with multiple discharges, the best discharge status may be used for SSVF eligibility.Slide22

Program Guide Updates

Former:

Temporary Financial Assistance is an optional Supportive Service

Current:Temporary Financial Assistance is a required Supportive ServiceAll grantees have TFA as part of grantee agreementPriority 2, 3 awards- no more than 50% TFAPriority 1 awards- between 40% and 50%However, not all

households require TFA . Supportive services grant funds should only be used as direct financial assistance

when “but for” criteria are met.

Temporary Financial Assistance Slide23

Program Guide Updates

Table added per recommendation from reviewers

Required

SSVF Forms – Download Format from SSVF UniversityOfficial* SSVF Forms - Download Recommended Format from SSVF UniversityCase File Documentation RequirementsSlide24

Program Guide Updates

Habitability Standards

When moving

into a new (different) housing unit, grantees are strongly encouraged to conduct initial and any appropriate follow-up inspections of the housing unit into which the participant will be moving. While inspections are not required, they are strongly encouraged, as grantees assisting a participant to move into

anew housing unit should be interested in ensuring that the new housing unit meets certain basic standards. The habitability inspection does not need to require a certified inspector.Slide25

Program Guide Updates

Market Study

A market study involves documenting details of three comparable advertised rental unitsMay substitute a letter from the property manager of the unit under consideration that cites details of three comparable units within the manager’s portfolio

Citing Fair Market Rents (FMRs) is insufficient for market study purposes

Assisted

unit must be comparable to rents

charged during

the same time period for similar units in the

private, unassisted market

A

ssisted

unit must not be in excess of rents

charged by

the

property

owner during same time period for other unassisted unitsRent Reasonableness Slide26

Program Guide Updates

General

Housing Stability Assistance refers to provision of goods or payment of expenses

not included in other SSVF categories but which are directly related to supporting participant's housing stability. Emergency suppliesExpenses associated with gaining or keeping employmentExpenses associated with moving into permanent

housingExpenses necessary for securing appropriate permanent housingEmergency

Housing Assistance

TFA Updates from FY 2013Slide27

Program Guide Updates

Outreach

activity and costs are typically made up of direct outreach staff time. However,

SSVF may pay for SSVF marketing materials to enhance conventional staff-driven outreach provided that all of the following terms are met before incurring such costs:Traditional staff-driven methods of outreach were tried but target numbers are still unmet.An assessment was performed to ensure chosen marketing method will be effective.A comparison was made between effectiveness of staff outreach versus marketing.Care was taken to market only the SSVF program itself and not the sponsoring agency.Marketing

was designed to ensure effectiveness in connecting Veterans to SSVF

Eligible Expenses for OutreachSlide28

Monitoring Process

Notification Email

Entrance Conference

Program Review/Documentation Review and Staff InterviewsExit Conference Follow-up Results Letter

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Section B: Overall Management Systems/Structure

TruthPoint

Survey

Grantees must provide each participant with a satisfaction survey and must register Veterans using the electronic survey link provided by the VACoC ParticipationInformation security to include electronic records29Slide30

Section D: Outreach and Targeting

Grantees must provide outreach to all areas proposed to be served in their application

Outreach includes identifying very low income veteran families and screening them to determine eligibility

Outreach logs or schedules should indicate where and when outreach workers are on location in all areas30Slide31

Section E: Participant Eligibility

What is the process for determining participant eligibility?

What happens when a person is found ineligible

Inform the ineligible person as to the reasons, Recommend alternatives, Provide referralsDo the files document the following:Proper Veteran statusOccupying permanent housing statusAnnual Median income at or below 50% AMIRecertificationExit from the program

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Section F: Supportive Services and Case Management

Grantees are required to enter client-level data on all participants into HMIS

The FY2015 VA Data Guide provides guidance on HMIS setup for SSVF grants, data collection and data quality requirements to assist grantees with meeting these requirements

Grantees must upload client-level data from HMIS to the secure SSVF Data Repository32Slide33

Section H: Vehicle Usage

If grantees are providing direct transportation to Veteran households, monitoring should include Section H.

This applies even if grantee is providing transportation using their own vehicles or vehicles owned by the grantee (not paid with SSVF funds)

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Additional Visits (or two day Visits)

Notification Email

Regular monitoring visit with additional elements

Review additional client filesMore in-depth review of the following:General LedgerPayroll DocumentationAdministrative ExpendituresSubcontractor Expenditures34Slide35

Grantee Orientation Guide

Introductory Training to SSVF

Covers: program requirements, program practices and philosophies, and examples of best practices in the field

Contains prerecorded videos and toolsRequirement for new grantees to view within 2 weeks of receiving Grantee Orientation GuideNew grantees must send certification of completion Regional CoordinatorRecommended for renewal grantees

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TruthPoint – Veteran Survey

TruthPoint

is an electronic assessment for Veterans receiving or who have recently received SSVF services

Veterans’ responses are used to improve services – at both grantee and SSVF levelsGrantees will receive reports based upon responses from VeteransGrantees are required to make the survey available to VeteransSlide39

TruthPoint – How it works:

Grantees will receive

a unique

weblink via email in the coming weeksGrantees register Veterans through weblink:Enter Veteran’s first name and emailVeteran’s responses are anonymousEmail invitation sent to VeteranGrantees receive customized reports with feedback from Veterans who are servedSlide40

TruthPoint

Kudos to the following grantees for their high Veteran response rate for this year:

Vietnam Veterans of California

Shelter, Inc. of Contra Costa CountyUnited States Veterans InitiativeHarbor HomesSlide41

TruthPoint – Question Examples

“How would you rate the quality of services received from this provider?”

“Did the provider involve you in creating an individualized housing stabilization plan?”

“Do you feel that this housing plan is a good fit for your needs?”“How would you rate the quality of the services you have received from this supportive services provider?”Slide42

TruthPoint – Tips…

Save your weblink to computer desktop

Link is unique to your grantee organization, but can be shared w/ subcontractors providing

serviceTry practicing using the weblinkResponses will be tracked 1/1/15, and reports will be sent automatically at end of quarter Encourage Veterans to voice their opinions! We CARE! Slide43

Supportive Services for Veteran Families

Thank you

Powerpoint

Presentation will be posted on http://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvfuniversity.aspQuestions? Go To: http://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp Email:

SSVF@va.gov

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