Working Together …
to Eliminate Veteran Homelessness
Health Care for Homeless Veterans
St. Louis VA Homeless Program
Outreach and Education-Justice and Prevention Services
Innovative Housing -Support Services
Joanne Joseph, LCSW
St. Louis VA
Homeless Programs Supervisor
Opening Doors
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness
Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness
 Key Principles:
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Collaborative
Solutions-driven and evidence-based
Cost-effective
Implementable and user-friendly
Lasting and scalable; and
Measurable, with clear outcomes and accountability
Build on HUD’s existing 10 yr plan to end Chronic
Homelessness and expand to include goal to end veteran
homelessness
VA’s National Five Year Plan
 One of the Secretary’s highest priorities
 A Veteran-centric “no wrong door” approach
 Community level plan
 Develop new initiatives that promote transformation efforts and
optimize the six integrated pillars of the VA’s Plan.
 Prevention
 Employment/Income
 Housing and Supportive Services
 Treatment
 Outreach
 Community Collaboration
St. Louis Homeless Program
Five-year plan to end Homelessness OUTLINED
Expand prevention and employment services
Justice Outreach
Vocational Rehabilitation
Incorporate evidenced-based practice
Critical Time Intervention
Motivational Interviewing
Increase Collaboration
Stand Down, Homeless Summit, HUD, City/County Homeless Programs
Provide individualized, recovery-focused care
Low barrier, non-linear
Stakeholder-driven
Needs assessments
VA Homeless Program Growth
146
160
140
146
120
120
120
100
Staff
95
80
40
40
60
70
40
Permanent
Housing
Vouchers
35
40
20
146
5
0
5
0
2005
2006
0
6
2007
0
7
2008
8
2009
Fiscal Year
15
18
2010
2011
Transitional
Housing
Catchment Area
14 Counties
Illinois
9 Counties
Missouri
St. Louis
City
VA Homeless Program Structure
HCHV
Homeless Program
Grant and Per
Diem
Transitional
Housing
HUD VASH
Supportive
Housing
Outreach and
Case
Management
and Referral
St. Vincent DePaul, St. Patrick's Center, Salvation Army, The Joseph Center, DMH, HUD, St. Louis
and Madison County Veterans’ Courts, Department of Corrections
St. Louis VA Homeless Programs:
Services Provided
•
Prevention Services
• National Call Center
• Healthcare Re-Entry
• Veterans Justice Outreach
• Supportive Services for Veteran
Families-Referrals
•
Treatment Services
• Referral & Case Management
• Health: Nursing Assessments &
Dental benefits for qualifying
veterans
• Domiciliary
•
Housing and Supportive Services
• HUD-VASH
• GPD (St. Vincent DePaul, Salvation
Army, Joseph Center, St.
Patrick’s/DMH)
• Substance Abuse Education
• Peer Support
•
Outreach Services
• COC
• Prisons
• Working with The Bridge, Centenary
Church
• Stand Down Collaboration
•
Assessment
• Outcomes Monitoring
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Employment/Income
• Voc Rehab Specialists
• Computer Classes
Grant Per Diem- Transitional Housing
24-month programs
VA grant with community partners
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St. Vincent DePaul
Salvation Army Harbor Lights
The Joseph Center
DMH/St. Patricks Center
VA provides oversight, supportive services, as
needed clinical care
Grant PerTransitional
Diem: Transitional
Housing Program
Housing
Factors associated with positive outcomes
 Individualized care
 Privacy (private or semi-private settings)
 Integrated approach: employment, substance abuse,
mental health
 Structured harm-reduction
Challenges
 Capacity (GPD and Affordable housing options)
 Chronic, complex presenting conditions
 Employment
HUD-VA Supported Housing Program
Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
 Federal collaboration
Housing-First
Non-linear
Targeting: Chronically homeless, families, women
and those returning from combat.
HUD-VASH
Successes
 2008 vouchers: 62% Veterans successfully
participating in program for more than 2 years
 75% for more than 1 year
 Intact families
 Flexibility and Recovery
 Can successfully discontinue case management and keep voucher
Challenges
 Chronic, complex presenting conditions
 Intensive case management needs (staff: Veteran)
Housing and Homeless Prevention
Identified Opportunities for Growth
 Expand Catchment Area Collaboration and Outreach Efforts
 Increase collaboration with VA Medical Foster Care Program
 Expand Prevention Services
 Supportive Services for Families (Open NOFA-Closes March 2012)
 Expand Housing
 Emergency beds (contract)
 GPD (TBA: NOFA)
 HUD VASH
 Targeting of Specialized Populations
 Women and Families
 OEF/OIF
 Incarcerated Veterans
Thank you for you continued
dedicated service to Veterans
and the community.
Questions, Concerns, Ideas?
Contact:
St. Louis VA Homeless Programs
(314) 652-4100 ext 55460