From: SSVF

Sent: Friday, May 7, 2021 12:38 PM

To: SSVF

Subject: SSVF Program Update Friday May 7, 2021

Attachments: pih2021-05.pdf; SSVF Program Guide Exhibit I.pdf

TOPICS

NEW: Updated SSVF Program Guide Posted

NEW: Program Manager Academy coming in June

REGISTER: SSVF National Webinar - FY2019 Annual Report Review and FOFA FY2020 Common Findings, May 13, 2021 at 2:00pm EST

REGISTER: SQUARES Workshop, May 20^th 2021 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm EST

RESOURCE: Webinar – Improving Equity and Inclusion in SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR) Programs

RESOURCE: Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program

RESOURCE:  Shared Housing Link and Attachment

RESOURCE: New Community Resource Coming: Emergency Housing Vouchers

NEW: Updated SSVF Program Guide Posted

The updated SSVF Program Guide with clarifications and link corrections has been released.  Clarifying language regarding ineligible items has been added to page 96.  Additionally, the Program Guide index and exhibit links have been adjusted to take readers directly to the sections noted.  These documents have been attached for ease of access as well as linked below. 

Link: SSVF_Program_Guide.pdf (va.gov)

NEW: Program Manager Academy Coming in June!

The 2021 Virtual Program Manager Academy will include nine individual topical sessions for all SSVF Program Managers, followed by smaller breakout discussions for new SSVF Program Managers. These will take place throughout the first three weeks of June. Program Managers will receive registration information and schedule from their Regional Coordinator in the coming days. All SSVF Program Managers are strongly encouraged to attend Program Manager Academy sessions taking place throughout the month of June.  New Program Managers, who have been specifically identified by their SSVF Regional Coordinator, will also be invited to participate in a post-session workgroup discussion based on the topic(s) discussed in the larger broadcast sessions.

REGISTER: SSVF National Webinar - FY2019 Annual Report Review and FOFA FY2020 Common Findings, May 13, 2021 at 2:00pm EST  

This SSVF National Webinar will review the FY20 FOFA Common Findings and the FY19 SSVF Annual Report’s findings.  Within the Annual Report discussion, we will share information of SSVF’s service trends, demographics, living situations at entry, destinations, and returns to homelessness.  Additionally, in reviewing the FOFA Common Findings, the Office of Business Oversight (OBO) will share a summary of FY2020 audit results.  This webinar will highlight the common findings, frequent causes of those findings, and suggestions to avoid similar issues with financial and operational activities going forward. 

REGISTER: SQUARES Workshop, May 20^th, 2021 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm EST

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Salesforce are hosting a SQUARES Workshop to educate users about new SQUARES functionality that will help organizations connect Veterans with programs and services.  The Agenda includes information about the importance of providing fast and accurate services to homeless or at-risk Veterans, live demonstrations, information about eligibility verification, along with designated time for questions and answers.  Follow the links below for further information and registration. (Registration limits are currently set at 300 participants.)

Event Link: Learn what's new in VA SQUARES (splashthat.com)

Registration Link:  Webex Events (classic)

RESOURCE: Webinar – Improving Equity and Inclusion in SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR) Programs

The SAMHSA SOAR TA Center is hosting a SOAR Webinar: Improving Equity and Inclusion in SOAR Programs.  The webinar is scheduled to take place Tuesday May 25, 2021 from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm ET.  More information regarding the free webinar and registration can be found by following this link:  SOAR Webinar: Improving Equity and Inclusion in SOAR Programs | SOAR Works! (prainc.com)

RESOURCE: Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program

The new Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP) is now accepting applications.  Participation is limited to 17,250 eligible Veterans. 

VRRAP offers education and training for high-demand jobs to Veterans who are unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike other VBA programs Veterans do not need to be eligible for VR&E benefits which means it may be more accessible for some of our Veterans. The eligibility requirements are below:

To be eligible for this program, Veterans must meet all the requirements listed here. 

All of these must be true.

• At least 22 years old, but not older than 66, and
• Unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and
• Not eligible for GI Bill or VR&E benefits and
• Not rated as totally disabled because you can’t work, and
• Not enrolled in a federal or state jobs programs, and
• Not receiving unemployment benefits (including CARES Act benefits)

Additional information including a list of approved schools and high demand occupations as well as a registration link can be found at:  Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP)

RESOURCE: Shared Housing Link and Attachment

The SSVF Program Office continues to encourage Grantees to address the housing needs of Veterans through a variety of housing options.  One such housing option, Shared Housing, has become an increasingly viable opportunity for our Veterans to access permanent housing.  With the high cost of housing, high demand for housing and lack of housing stock, we are seeing an increasing number of communities and agencies explore Shared Housing as an possibility.  In addition to the Shared Housing Toolkit developed by the Program Office in collaboration with our technical assistance (TAC/ABT) partners, HUD has released Notice PIH 2021-05 (document attached) to Public Housing Agencies about the use of Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) in shared living situations.  We encourage SSVF Grantees to review this information in addition to the SSVF Shared Housing toolkit and reach out to your Regional Coordinator should you have further questions.     

RESOURCE: New Community Resource Coming: Emergency Housing Vouchers

This week, the Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published PIH Notice 2021-15, Emergency Housing Vouchers-Operating Requirements, which outlines the requirements for Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) who will be invited to administer approximately 70,000 vouchers nation-wide.  The eligible populations for the Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs) are individuals and families who are:

• Homeless;
• At-risk of Homelessness;
• Fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking; and
• Recently homeless and for whom providing rental assistance will prevent the family’s homelessness or having high risk of housing instability, including clients in rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing programs.

These vouchers represent an exciting opportunity for collaboration between Continuums of Care (CoC) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) providers and local PHAs.  PHAs must enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with their local partners to receive referrals for the Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs) from local Coordinated Entry System.  Additional resources for addressing equity in homelessness are available at https://www.hudexchange.info/homelessness-assistance/racial-equity/#covid-19.

Regards,

SSVF Program Office