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Working Together … to Eliminate Veteran Homelessness Outreach and Education-Justice and Prevention Services Innovative Housing -Support Services Joanne Joseph, LCSW St. Louis VA Homeless Programs Supervisor. Health Care for Homeless Veterans St. Louis VA Homeless Program.
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Working Together … to Eliminate Veteran Homelessness Outreach and Education-Justice and Prevention Services Innovative Housing -Support Services Joanne Joseph, LCSW St. Louis VA Homeless Programs Supervisor • Health Care for Homeless Veterans • St. Louis VA Homeless Program
Opening Doors United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness • Key Principles: • 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 Structure 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 • Housing and Supportive Services • HUD-VASH • GPD (St. Vincent DePaul, Salvation Army, Joseph Center, St. Patrick’s/DMH) • Substance Abuse Education • Peer Support • Employment/Income • Voc Rehab Specialists • Computer Classes • Treatment Services • Referral & Case Management • Health: Nursing Assessments & Dental benefits for qualifying veterans • Domiciliary • Outreach Services • COC • Prisons • Working with The Bridge, Centenary Church • Stand Down Collaboration • Assessment • Outcomes Monitoring
Grant Per Diem- Transitional Housing • 24-month programs • VA grant with community partners • St. Vincent DePaul • Salvation Army Harbor Lights • The Joseph Center • DMH/St. Patricks Center • VA provides oversight, supportive services, as needed clinical care
Transitional Housing Grant Per Diem: Transitional Housing Program 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 PreventionIdentified 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