From: SSVF
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2016 11:30 AM
Subject: SSVF Program Updates March 4,
2016
Importance: High
Topics:
1.
Important
Repository Deadline Modification!
2.
SAVE THE
DATE! National SSVF Webinar on March 17, 2016: Participant Satisfaction
Survey
3.
Open
Letter to the Grantees of the Department of Veteran Affairs Homeless providers
Grant and Per Diem Program
4.
Resource:
Tax Services for Veterans
5.
Reminder:
Register for Regional Meetings
Important
Repository Timeline Modifications:
The SSVF program office received
notification that VA’s efforts to synchronize reporting across homeless
programs will require that all SSVF corrections and updates are uploaded to the
Repository no later than the 9th day of each month (please note
earlier guidance listed the 10th as the cutoff date). This
revised timeline will go into effect this month – the Repository will now be
open through March 9. We understand that the final deadline has been
a moving target in the past couple of months and apologize for the late notice
– we hope that this will be the last change. Once again, all corrections
and updates must be uploaded to the Repository no later than Wednesday,
March 9.
Revised Upload Timeline:
·
Repository opens
on the 1st business day
·
Grantees must
upload HMIS data no later than the 3rd business day
·
Data quality
reports emailed on the 4th business day
·
The Repository
will remain open for re-uploads through the 9th day of the month
·
Data quality
reports emailed on the 10th or the first business day after the 10th
Save the Date for the
National SSVF Webinar on March 17, 2016 at 2pm Eastern
The SSVF National Webinar
will cover the new SSVF Participant Satisfaction Survey that grantees will
begin to implement next month. Registration will be provided. As
you know, SSVF has changed software vendors for the Participant Surveys for
Veterans in FY16. We will introduce M. Davis and Company on this webinar
and they will present the new processes and procedures for the distribution and
collection of the survey.
Open Letter to the
Grantees of the Department of Veteran Affairs Homeless providers Grant and Per
Diem Program
Earlier this week, the VA
Deputy Secretary released an Open Letter about the vision for the GPD program,
as well as frequently asked questions on bridge housing. It is available
on the GPD website http://www.va.gov/homeless/gpd.asp. Leadership from GPD and SSVF are collaborating
to provide additional information about expectations for coordination of
services. More details to come.
Resource: Tax
Services for Veterans
The VA’s blog on this topic
can be found at this website, http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/25251/free-tax-return-preparation-options-for-veterans-and-their-families/. It will take you to “Veterans and Their
Families May Be Eligible to File Their Taxes Absolutely Free”.
There are several ways that
Veterans and their families can access free tax preparation and electronic
filing services—
·
The IRS’
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly
(TCE): https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax-Return-Preparation-for-You-by-Volunteers. There is a locator option on this web site to
assist you with locating the nearest location.
·
MyFreeTaxes (www.myfreetaxes.com) is operating the only free online tax preparation
and filing assistance platform available in all 50 states and Washington, DC
for those who earned $62,000 or less in 2015. They also provide in-person
assistance to individuals and families earning less than $20,000 in 2015.
The blog has other valuable
resources and information for Veterans about their taxes and the filing
process. As you are working with Veterans to help them become as
self-sufficient as possible, fiscal management is often a part of that
process. Making sure Veterans understand if they need to file taxes and the
process, or assisting them with accessing services regarding the filing
process, can help with continued self-sufficiency.
Reminder: Register
for Regional Meetings
As you know we have upcoming Regional
meetings in the month of March. If you are going to be in attendance,
please remember to register if you have not done so already. Please
contact your Regional Coordinator if you have any questions.
NOTE: If you are
receiving this email in error, please disregard. We request your patience
as the SSVF Program Office continues to address system issues with the grants
management database.
Thank you,
SSVF Program Office