Transcript Slide 1
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Homeless Programs in Florida Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Outreach • VA HCHV outreach teams go into the local community to find homeless veterans in: shelters, parks, under overpasses and bridges, homeless camps, also walk-in’s to HCHV community based offices. • Eligible homeless vets and vets at risk of homelessness are enrolled into VA services and assessed for specific needs. • Referrals are made to VA and community services including: food, clothing, job training, voc rehab services, CWT/IT, employment, shelter, VA SUD/MH tx, primary care, VA GPD transitional housing. • HCHV programs in all Network Medical Center Service Areas • Performance Measure 1b, access to care, SUD/MH assessment within 60 days of HCHV intake. VA Supported Housing (VASH) • VA and HUD partner to provide Section 8 housing and Case Management to homeless veterans with chronic mental illness. • Veterans must have intake from HCHV program and evaluation from VASH Coordinator. • Programs in Tampa and Miami. • Currently no availability of additional Section 8 Housing Vouchers. VA Grant and Per Diem Program • Offered annually since 1994 by the VA HCHV programs to fund community agencies providing services to homeless veterans. • Promote development & provision of supportive housing and/or supportive services to help homeless veterans achieve residential stability, increase skill levels and/or income, with increased selfdetermination. • Eligible programs must provide supportive housing (up to 24 months), or service centers that provide: vocational training, education, case management, crisis intervention, counseling ect. • Two levels of funding: The Grant Component and the Per Diem Component. VA Grant and Per Diem Program Grants: • VA funds up to 65% of the cost of construction, renovation, or acquisition of a building for use as a service center or transitional housing for homeless veterans. • Renovation of VA properties is allowed, acquisition of VA property is not. • Recipients must obtain 35% matching funds from other sources. • Grants not to be used for operational / salary costs. VA Grant and Per Diem Program Per Diem: • Priority to grant recipients. • Non-grant programs may apply for Per Diem under a separate announcement, when published in the Federal Register for “Per Diem Only”. • Can be used for operational costs, including salaries. • Maximum amount payable is $31.30. • Veterans can be asked to pay up to 30% of adjusted income. VA Grant and Per Diem Program National: • Over 8,000 beds in projects across the country. VISN 8: • Over 500 beds in 21 projects from Thomasville, Ga. to Key West, and Puerto Rico. Performance Measures: • 1c - Access to Care, SUD/Psych assessment within 60 days of admission to program. • 1d – Access to Care, Primary Care exam within 60 days of admission to program. • 1e – Access to Care, SUD/Psych assessment with in 60 days of discharge from program. Homeless Veterans Dental Program (HVDP) • Established in 1992, this program was designed to increase the accessibility of quality dental care to homeless veterans. • Dental problems such as pain and/or missing teeth barriers to seeking and obtaining employment. • Help insure the success in VA-sponsored and VA partnerships with homeless rehabilitation programs Nationally. • Limited eligibility for homeless vets in certain VA-sponsored rehabilitation programs (GPD / DCHV / Contract Residential) • National program office at Bay Pines VAMC. Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans (DCHV) • Provides biopsychosocial treatment and rehab to homeless veterans. • Average length of stay 4 months. • Conduct outreach and referral; vocational counseling and rehabilitation; and post–discharge community support. •• Operational DCHV programs at Bay Pines (25 beds) and Orlando (20 beds). • DCHV programs in development at Tampa (30-35 beds) and Gainesville (35-40 beds).