From:                                         SSVF

Sent:                                           Friday, January 21, 2022 7:21 AM

Subject:                                     SSVF Program Update Friday January 21, 2022

Attachments:                          VA Homeless Programs Disposable Smartphone Initiative - SSVF Quick Guide - January-2022.pdf; VA Homeless Programs Disposable Smartphone Initiative Tracker Template.xlsx; CONSENT FOR PRODUCTION AND USE OF VERBAL OR WRITTEN STATEMENTS.pdf; REQUEST FOR AND AUTHORIZATION TO RELEASE HEALTH INFORMATION.pdf

 

NOTE: This weekly update is targeted towards the SSVF Grantees and shared with valuable partners for awareness.        

   

RESOURCE: Get Free At-Home COVID-⁠19 Tests 

REMINDER: SSVF Monthly Repository Upload Notice    

REMINDER: SSVF Notice of Funding Opportunity for FY2023 Published     

UPDATE: VA Homeless Programs Smartphone Activation Support Expansion (see attachments) 

NEW: SSVF Intake Information Activity: Smart Simple 

NEW: Request for Success Stories for Upcoming SSVF Annual Report (see attachments) 

   

 

RESOURCE: Get Free At-Home COVID-⁠19 Tests 

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests.  

§  Limit of one order per residential address 

§  One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests 

§  Orders will ship free starting in late January 

§  Tests are completely free and may be ordered by visiting the website: https://www.covidtests.gov  

 

  

REMINDER: SSVF Monthly Repository Upload Notice    

Beginning in March 2022, the SSVF Monthly Upload process will include data quality checks regarding accurate and timely reporting of Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) provided to Veteran households. These checks will include additional email notifications to grantees whose uploads contain TFA amounts per household that are either too high or too low. To assist with this effort, upload periods will be adjusted as follows:    

   

Month	First Upload Due Date	Final Upload Due Date
March	Wednesday, March 2	Monday, March 7
April	Monday, April 4	Thursday, April 7
May	Tuesday, May 3	Saturday, May 7
June	Thursday, June 2	Tuesday, June 7
July	Tuesday, July 5	Thursday, July 7
August	Tuesday, August 2	Sunday, August 7
September	Friday, September 2	Wednesday, September 7
October	Monday, October 3	Friday, October 7

   

Please make sure these dates are marked on your calendars, and that data entry staff are aware of the extra scrutiny TFA data will receive in the coming calendar year.  

 

 

REMINDER: SSVF Notice of Funding Opportunity for FY2023 Published     

The SSVF Program Office and VA are pleased to announce the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) published in the Federal Register.  This NOFO for supportive services grants provides funding opportunities to new and existing grants.  This NOFO is competitive, and applicants are urged to closely review the NOFO and associated training available on the SSVF website: Homeless Veterans | Core Concepts (va.gov)      

     

Applicants are required to apply online via SSVF's grants management system, SmartSimple.  VA will use the application scoring criteria as described in 38 CFR 62.21, 62.22, and 62.24 and 62.25 for renewal applicants.  Awards are for services to begin October 1, 2023.      

     

Those SSVF programs with multi-year awards (Priority 1) that are not required to submit a renewal application this year, must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) indicating the agency’s desire to continue program operations in FY 2023.       

     

NOTE: An email was sent on November 23, 2021, to SmartSimple account owners for those multi-year Grantees who will need to complete the LOI process.   All grants are eligible to be renewed subject to the availability of funding.       

     

Applications are due no later than February 7, 2022, at 4 pm EST.  Please contact ssvf@va.gov if you have questions or concerns.     

    

 

UPDATE: VA Homeless Programs Smartphone Activation Support Expansion (see attachments) 

For those SSVF Grantees currently participating in the Homeless Disposable Smartphone Initiative, we would like to share that the Iron Bow activation team has expanded, in an effort to accommodate the phone activations across all Grantees.  Beginning immediately, VA SSVF Grantees should utilize the VADataPlan@ironbow.com to activate phones received as part of this initiative.  We have also updated the VA Homeless Programs Disposable Smartphone Initiative SSVF Quick Guide, as well as the Smartphone Initiative Tracker to account for this change to better assist Grantees with management of this initiative. 

 

Please be sure to utilize these two resources (attached) and you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your SSVF Regional Coordinator. 

 

 

NEW: SSVF Intake Information Activity: Smart Simple 

In an effort to ensure that the SSVF Program Office has the most up to date intake email and phone number for your organization, we are asking all Grantees to complete the Intake Information Activity NLT January 28, 2022.  This information will be updated to our website which is used by Veterans and providers to locate SSVF Grantees.  It is imperative that you keep this information up to date, therefore, you can request this activity in Smart Simple and provide updated information for changes in the future.  Please follow the instructions that were sent out by your Regional Coordinator.  

 

 

NEW: Request for Success Stories for Upcoming SSVF Annual Report (see attachments) 

The SSVF Program Office is seeking success stories to publish in the upcoming SSVF Annual Report, which is shared with Congress and other stakeholders.  Please send your signed consent forms (2 total) and completed questionnaire below to: Maxine.Pulliam@va.gov and Mark_Silverbush@abtassoc.com no later than Friday January 28, 2022.   

 

Required  

§  ROI 

§  Match: Services and TFA match the Assistance Type provided 

o    Provide Assistance Type (HP or RRH) 

o    Provide an overview of key services and TFA used 

§  Journey: There’s a clear path from: 

o    How the Veteran became homeless or came to need HP or RRH assistance 

o    The homeless/housing situation they were in at entry 

o    The intervention provided 

o    The result of SSVF service, including where they went 

§  Veteran HH Type and Composition Basics:  

o    For HHs w/children, how many children and adults?  

o    For HHs without children, how many adults,  

o    Who is the Veteran? 

§  Grantee ID 

§  Geographical location of Veteran HH 

 

Optional/Preferred  

§  Reason for sustainability at exit 

§  Picture 

§  Diversity 

o    Gender/HH type/Ethnicity/Military Branch 

§  Name of Veteran allowed to be shared 

   

 

With Regards,  

SSVF Program Office  

   

  

Website: www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf  

   

National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: 1-877-424-3838   

Veterans Crisis Hotline: 1-800-273-8255