VETERAN'S DAY EDITION
Community Action Partnership extends a THANK YOU to all who served in the armed forces! We also thank all veterans currently employed, volunteering or serving on the boards of Community Action Agencies.
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 Community Action in Action-
Resolving Veteran Challenges Everyday
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Northeast Florida Community Action Agency: Jacksonville, FL- CAA enrolled a literally homeless family of seven. Each night, the veteran and his wife slept in their car while the children slept at a friend's home so they could attend school. The veteran was unemployed and his wife worked part-time. The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program staff assisted this family with obtaining housing, financial assistance for rent, utilities, deposits, moving cost, and general housing assistance. The family is now stably housed. Also, the veteran applied for a warehouse position and is now employed full time! WSOS Community Action Commission: Fremont, OH-Housing veterans and their families rapidly is often a complicated process. Occasionally, CAAs are able to work exceptionally fast to achieve permanent housing. In the case of one Ohio family near Toledo, the SSVF family advocate was able to house a veteran within 24 hours of intake! During the intake appointment, the advocate called a few landlords with the veteran and found a place that he could afford. Program staff assisted him in moving in the next day! Washington- Hancock Community Agency: Ellsworth, ME- SSVF Program was working with a veteran who was facing substance abuse challenges. As part of monthly follow-ups, staff developed a good rapport with the veteran and he grew to appreciate the regular communication but needed resources to assist with the substance abuse. Programs staff connected the veteran with VA Medical Center in Togus, ME, where he was able to get the assistance he needed as well as retroactive payments for his military service. He's been discharged from the program and continues to remain stably housed and substance free.
Eastern Carolina Human Service Agency: Jacksonville, NC- A veteran and his wife lived in a hotel using their credit card to pay for their stay after he lost his job and was evicted. When their card was maxed out, they reached out to their local CAA for a permanent housing solution. The case manager found a potential landlord who would accept SSVF funds to assist with the security deposit and rent. The veteran and his wife were able to move into permanent housing and receive case management.
Macomb County Community Services Agency: Clinton Township, MI- Due to health reasons, a veteran became unemployed and faced eviction. After enrolling in the local SSVF program, he was provided with moving/storage funds and was stably housed. His complete military record revealed that he was eligible for pension, financial compensation, and more, all of which he is now receiving due to the assistance provided by Macomb County Community Services Agency, a Community Action Partnership SSVF sub-grantee.
Missouri Valley Community Action Agency: Marshall, MO- An out of state veteran arrived at Missouri Valley CAA needing immediate housing for him and his son. The case manager immediately put them in to a hotel while we worked to find permanent housing. Additionally, the case manager worked with the local school counselor to provide the son with stable means of transportation to get to school every day. This experience not only helped to achieve permanent housing for the family, but also helped the CAA to build positive relationships with community partners.
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CAAs Across the Country Assisting Veterans Through
Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)*
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- Fairfield-Suisun Community Action Council, Inc.(CA)
- Community Renewal Team (CT)
- Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness (DC)
- Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, Inc. (IA)
- Community Action of Northeast Indiana (IN)
- Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency (MI)
- Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency (MI)
- Community Action Agency
- Mid Michigan Community Action Agency, Inc. (MI)
- Central Nebraska Community Services (NE)
- Northeast Nebraska Community Action Partnership (NE)
- Blue Valley Community Action, Inc. (NE)
- Southwestern Community Services, Inc. (NH)
- North Hudson Community Action Corporation (NJ)
- HopeSource (WA)
- Washington Hancock Community Agency (ME)
- Missouri Valley Community Action Agency (MO)
- Macomb County Community Services Agency (MI)
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- Westchester Community Opportunity Program, Inc.(NY)
- Community Action Agency of Columbiana County, Inc. (OH)
- Community Action Program Corporation of Washington-Morgan Counties, Ohio (OH)
- Community Service Council of Greater Tulsa, Inc.(OK)
- KI BOIS Community Action Foundation, Inc. (OK)
- Community Action Team, Inc. (OR)
- Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Inc.(PA)
- Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin, Inc. (WI)
- Indianhead Community Action Agency (WI)
- West Virginia Community Action Partnership (WV)
- Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County (CA)
- Alger Marquette Community Action Board (MI)
- Quin Rivers, Inc (VA)
- Metropolitan Development Council (WA)
- Northeast Florida Community Action Agency (FL)
- WSOS Community Action (OH)
- Eastern Carolina Human Services Agency (NC)
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* Please note: This is not a complete list. If you are a CAA operating a SSVF program and would like to be added to this list, please email Barbara Ledyard at bledyard@communityactionpartnership.com.
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First Lady Michelle Obama Encouraged Landlords to Help
End Veteran Homelessness
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| | First Lady Michelle Obama Encourages Landlords to Help End Veteran Homelessness |
First Lady Michelle Obama released a video this week to landlords encouraging them to help communities across the country end Veteran homelessness. "You all have the power to open doors for Vets, and give them the stability they deserve, and help our country solve an issue that has been swept under the rug for far too long," the first lady says.
The message asks landlords to make units available to Veterans with federal rental assistance who haven't yet been able find a home. "We've made historic investments to get housing vouchers into the hands of Veterans and treat them with the dignity they deserve," says HUD Secretary Julián Castro. "But there are a number of communities where housing is too scarce or unaffordable that having a voucher just isn't enough. In those cases, we need landlords to be part of the solution by stepping up and accepting those vouchers."
In choosing to rent to Veterans exiting homelessness, landlords get a stable source of rent and the peace of mind that Veterans receive ongoing supportive services from local VA staff or community organizations to help them through unexpected crises. "In order to build on our progress making sure that those who have served our nation have a place they can call home, we need the increased support of landlords and property managers," says VA Secretary Bob McDonald. "We know that when given the opportunity, Veterans have the skills and abilities to make excellent tenants." Affordable housing is a concern across the country, one that can begin to be addressed by strong partnerships between landlords and a community's housing crisis response system.
"Veterans Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices our service members have made for us, and what we owe them for that sacrifice," says Matthew Doherty, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. "The partnerships we are building with landlords today will help us honor our commitment to Veterans and all people experiencing homelessness more quickly and effectively."
In June of 2014, Mrs. Obama called on mayors and other elected officials across the country to join the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness. A total of 854 officials from 45 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia have signed up for that challenge, including nine governors.
"Just like it is our country's duty to bring back all of our men and women from the battlefield, we've also got a duty to make sure that every single Veteran has a place to call home when they get here, and for the rest of their lives," Mrs. Obama said, at the launch of the challenge.
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness |
Resources for CAAs Serving Homeless Veterans
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It is important that CAA's are equipped to provide veterans, especially women, resources that tailor to their specific needs. If you know of veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness, please contact the VA by calling 1-877- 4AID-VET or visit
http://www.va.gov/womenvet/. Each VA medical center has a designated Women's Veteran Coordinator. Homeless veterans who are seeking employment assistance can also coordinate with Local Veteran Employment Representatives (LVER) and the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP). Visit http://www.careeronestop.org/ to locate the nearest DVOP and LVER in your state. Additionally, Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) offices are located in each of the 50 states and can assist veterans with locating a job or program that best fits their needs. A list of VETS offices can be found at: http://www.dol.gov/vets/aboutvets/contacts/main.htm
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Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) is a community-based program funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and utilizes the rapid re-housing model in providing supportive services to very low-income veteran families that are homeless or imminently homeless. The Community Action Partnership currently has three SSVF grant awards and collaborates with six sub-grantee Community Action Agencies, which directly provide a range of supportive services designed to promote housing stability. The six sub-grantee agencies combat veteran homelessness across the country, as they serve clients in Maine, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, Florida and North Carolina communities. As the grantee, the Community Action Partnership administers fiscal, programmatic and administrative oversight of each sub-grantee as they provide eligible veteran families with case management, outreach, assistance in obtaining VA and other applicable benefits, and provision of payments to third parties that ensure stable transitions to permanent housing.
Together with partnering sub-grantees, the Partnership's SSVF program is demonstrating that high-impact interventions can successfully assist veteran families avoid homelessness and achieve housing stability. Following evidence-based practices, SSVF sub-grantees have utilized a "housing first" approach to efficiently serve over 937 veteran families this program year.
Hundreds of low-income Veteran families will continue to have access to vital housing stability services with the recent renewal of $3,006,080.86 in grants to the Partnership under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. Additionally, CAP plans to continue partnering with national and local organizations to offer training to the Community Action Network to equip CAAs to better serve veterans and respond to any barriers they more than likely will face when returning to civilian life. According to The Economist (Nov 12, 2014 edition), the armed forces are expected to shed nearly 250,000 soldiers a year over the next five years. Some of these men and women will return wounded in some way. Most will face the challenge of finding a new job, re-entering their family structure and learning new skills. By partnering with organizations such as the National Alliance to End Homelessness and Syracuse University's Institute of Military and Veteran Families, the Community Action Partnership is working to ensure CAAs are prepared to respond to veteran challenges at the local level.
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Community Action Partnership SSVF Program Assists
Female Veteran with Challenge of Achieving Self-Sufficiency
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Female veterans represent one of the fastest growing segments of the veteran population-about 9.2% of the total veteran population (Department of Veteran Affairs, June 2, 2015). And in recent years, the VA has increased their efforts to create resources focused on female veterans by hosting events nationwide to raise awareness and celebrate the accomplishments of women veterans. In response to the unique needs of female veterans, the Community Action Agency (CAA) Network is responding to this issue through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. Funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs, SSVF is focused on providing supportive services to very low-income Veteran families currently in or transitioning to permanent housing.
As a SSVF grantee, the Community Action Partnership (CAP) collabor
ates with local CAAs who serve as sub-grantees to provide services for almost 1,000 veterans per year, a large number of whom are female veterans. This work is challenging; however CAP sub-grantees, such Macomb County Community Service Agency's (MCCSA), are experiencing measurable
Letitia, a veteran of the Navy, served our country for four years as an Engineman. In the Navy, she was responsible for maintaining diesel engines and other mechanics. She describes her transition to civilian life as being difficult. She noted, "I had just had a daughter [2 months old at the time], was a first time mommy, and had a hard time finding a job." She eventually
found odd jobs, but nothing to sustain her and her family. Her situation remained challenging for years.
In 2014, Letitia was referred to MCCSA's SSVF program in Clinton Township, Michigan. At the time of her referral, Letitia was living in a home with her three children, ages 2, 3, and 11 and her significant other, who was often prone to domestic violence. They could barely
afford the rent and other living expenses necessary to maintain their housing. She reached out to a social worker at the VA Hospital in Detroit for help. The social worker referred her to Macomb County Community Service Agency's SSVF program.
At MCCSA, Letitia worked very closely with her case manager in creating a plan to stabilize her housing. She received rental assistance for a new home away from her abuser for her and her children. She received job resources and referrals to local organizations for other household needs. The case manager was able to secure a three bedroom home using the HUD-Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) voucher, a housing voucher program specifically for veterans. When asked about her current housing status, she could not contain her excitement. "Now I'm in stable housing, something I have never had. I am now in housing I can be financially responsible for," she stated. Letitia added, "Now, my children have somewhere to play and we live right next to a park, which is so awesome!"
With a high regard for education, she eventually enrolled in a local community college and received her Associate's Degree in Science. Letitia is currently enrolled at a four year college working on a bachelor's degree in Music. She aspires to become a Broadway Star because of her love of singing and acting. She is also participating in the AmeriCorps program; her work as an AmeriCorps participant focuses on the Urban Studies program and its mission of increasing public safety on Detroit's east side.
"As a veteran, the Navy taught me about work ethic, dedication, attention to detail and focus", Letitia recalled.
With help of SSVF and the resources provided, Letitia was able to provide a better life for her and her children. She credits her accomplishment, in part, to a diligent and compassionate case worker at MCCSA. "I'm so blessed this happened to me, my case manager was an angel-she really cared. I always felt she was there for me," she acknowledged.
The rapport the SSVF case manager built with Letitia was an important factor in her success in the program. "One of Letitia's unique obstacles was her responsibility for three young children; so when she went "Literally Homeless", it was a wake-up call," stated Sama Harp, SSVF Program Manager at MSA. "She knew she needed to do whatever it takes to weaken or minimize the impact on her children." Harp added that Letitia cooperated with her SSVF case manager and the results were a complete success! "Now, she is working every day toward building capacity, improving every area of her life, and becoming a good role model for her children," Harp concluded.
Letitia has faced many hardships in her life, but she was able to conquer them and "hopes [her] story will influence another young lady!"
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