veterans and homelessness in rural areas
DESCRIPTION
Kyle McEvilly, National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, discusses the particular challenges involved in serving homeless veterans in rural areas.TRANSCRIPT
Kyle McEvillyCommunications and Program Assistant
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
www.nchv.org
“Veterans and Homelessness in Rural Areas”
April 22, 2014April 22, 2014
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A Presidential Push
“We will provide new help
for homeless Veterans because
those heroes have a home –
it’s the country they served,
the United States of America.”
-President Obama (March 16, 2009)
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Agenda
Background on Veteran Homelessness
Rural Veterans and Homelessness
Programs
Remaining Challenges, Existing Services
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NCHV Mission:NCHV will end homelessness among veterans by shaping public policy, promoting collaboration, and building the capacity of service providers.
Federal Strategic Plan:Access to Housing – (Housing First, rapid rehousing)
Access to Health Care – (primary, mental, and rehabilitative services)
Income Security – (employment, benefits counseling)
Prevention – (rapid rehousing, financial assistance, supportive services)
The VA Five-Year Plan to End Veteran Homelessness is PART of the Federal Strategic Plan – nothing stops at the end of FY 2015
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Background on Veteran Homelessness
Graph from The 2013 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress
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Graph generated by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans6
Contributions to Decline in Numbers
Improved coordination on the local level
More resources
Better data
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Background on Veteran Homelessness
Map from The 2013 AHAR to Congress
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Homelessness and women veteranso 1,380 in FY 2006 / 3,328 in FY 2010 / 4,456 in FY 2013o Factors that impact total numbers
Data improvements and limitations; Impact of prevention and rapid re-housing; Impact of HUD-VASH
Homeless veterans in familieso 2% of homeless veterans are part of a familyo Factors that impact total numbers:
National mainstream trends; impact of HUD-VASH and prevention programs
OIF/OEF/OND veterans:o 5% of all veterans are between the ages of 18 and 30o 9% of homeless veterans are in this age group
Aging veterans:o 42.3% of veterans in shelter are between the ages 51 and 61
Trends in Veteran Homelessness
Homelessness & women veterans: Homeless Women Veterans: Actions Needed to Ensure Safe and Appropriate Housing (GAO, 2011);The 2013 AHAR to CongressHomeless veterans in families, OIF/OEF/OND veterans: Veteran Homelessness: A Supplemental Report to the 2010 AHAR to CongressAging veterans: The 2011 AHAR to Congress 9
Needs Profiles of Homeless Veterans
Continuum varies--one description cannot fit all:o Chronically homeless with multiple minor offenseso Incarcerated veterans who are transitioning outo Those with records of DUIs, substance abuse, firearm charges,
aggression chargeso Those fleeing domestic violence
Different organizations fill roles needed to support these individuals
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Rural Veterans
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Rural Veterans
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Rural Veterans
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Rural Veterans
Rurally located veterans in United States: 4 million
Rural, working-age veterans with disability: 20%+
Many OIF/OEF veterans return to rural areas
Statistics from Rural Veterans at a Glance, Economic Research Service (USDA)
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Veterans and Homelessness in Rural Areas
Veteran Homelessnesso 13.6% (or 7,898 veterans) were located in a BoS or statewide CoCs
Data limitations
What we DO know:o Primary “homeless” living situations for people in rural areas:
Limited shelters Overcrowded homes Substandard housing Outdoors
Statistic from The 2013 AHAR to Congress; other information from Rural Homelessness: Better Collaboration by HHS and HUDCould Improve Delivery of Services in Rural Areas (GAO, 2010)
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Veterans and Homelessness in Rural Areas
Chart from The 2013 AHAR to Congress
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Challenges with Serving Veterans in Rural Areas
Access to Medical Careo Less frequent use of VA serviceso Less access to community mental health serviceso Increased stigma of service utilizationo Shortage of primary healthcare workers, specialists locally
Access to Income Securityo Higher and more prolonged unemploymento Less access to public transportation serviceso Low-skill/seasonal job prevalence
Access to Housingo Disconnect between employment and housing locationo Restricted homelessness definitions
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Challenges with Serving Veterans in Rural Areas
Legal issues affect medical care, income security, housing access Decreased access to housing alternatives Restricted employment opportunities Ineligible for VA benefits payments Ineligible for VA medical services Ineligible for Vet Center family counseling and mental health
services
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Resources on Veteran Homelessness
NCHV
National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans
Local VA Medical Centers (VAMCs)
Continuums of Care (CoCs)
DOL American Job Centers (AJCs)19
Programs for Homeless and At-Risk Rural Veteran Population
Major Federal ProgramsMedical Care
Income Securityo HVRPo American Job Centers o VA Benefitso SSI/SSDI
Housingo Continuum of Careo Transitional Housing (GPD) o HUD-VASH
Prevention Programs (SSVF)
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Programs for Homeless and At-Risk Rural Veteran Population
Medical Care - Not VA eligible/mainstream servicesCounty mental health servicesMobile health clinicsTarget programs: elderly care, SME servicesState Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) through HHS
o provides health-insurance to low income children who do not qualify for Medicaid and have no health insurance
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through HHSo provides access to essential health care services for people who are low-income,
uninsured or who live in rural areas or urban neighborhoods where health care is scarce.
o HRSA-funded health centers provide medical care to nearly 17 million patients at more than 4,000 sites
o Funds programs to prevent child abuse and domestic violence
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Programs for Homeless and At-Risk Rural Veteran Population
(continued)
Domestic violence support groups
RAINN support groups
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) through HHSo Administers Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: providing assistance to an
estimated 4 million people Administers the national child support enforcement system
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Programs for Homeless and At-Risk Rural Veteran Population
Income Security Employment
o Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program (HVRP) Objectives:
• To provide services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force
• To stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans
o American Job Centers
Benefitso SOARo Expedited VA benefits processing
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Secretary Eric ShinsekiDepartment of Veterans Affairs
“We are making great progress in the rescue mission, but we must work harder to succeed in the prevention phase of our mission …
That is the only way we’ll truly end veteran homelessness.”
May 30, 2012
NCHV Annual Conference
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Challenges for Prevention Mission
Poverty • Number of veterans living in poverty: 1.4 million • VA data estimates 1 in 9 will experience homelessness: 154,000 • Veterans exiting incarceration (5 years): 200,000 • Low rank veterans exiting military (5 years): 750,000
Lack of affordable housing • Waiting lists for housing vouchers remain in most communities • Housing First and rapid rehousing depend on adequate affordable housing stock • Housing crisis imperils veteran families – most areas need
mixed-population, services-enriched developments
First two statistics from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; third statistic from U.S. Department of Justice25
Services to Reduce Risk of Homelessness
• Child care services • Child support enforcement • Legal assistance to remove barriers to housing, employment • Financial and credit counseling services • Financial guardianship • Mainstream assistance for low-income veteran families
─ Food stamps─ Family health care─ Transportation assistance─ Case management; peer counseling─ State Vocational/Rehabilitation Employment Services ─ SSI and SSDI assistance
• Family counseling services, reconciliation assistance • Driver’s license restoration assistance and photo ID services
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Kyle McEvillyCommunications and Program Assistant
(202) 546-7086
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
www.nchv.org
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