From: SSVF

Sent: Thursday, September 2, 2021 2:54 PM

To: SSVF

Subject: SSVF Program Update Friday September 3, 2021

Attachments: SurveyMonkey_311140552.pdf

Follow Up Flag: Follow up

Flag Status: Flagged

TOPICS:

REQUIREMENT: Emergency Housing Assistance (EHA) Survey due by COB Friday, September 10, 2021 (PDF attached)

IMPORTANT: Grantee Budgets and Project Dates Overview

REGISTER: SSVF National Webinar & Office Hours Schedule for The Month of September

ATTENTION: September is Suicide Prevention Month

REQUIREMENT: Emergency Housing Assistance (EHA) Survey due by COB Friday, September 10, 2021 (PDF attached)

The SSVF Program Office is requesting updated EHA data for the month of August 2021 from all Grantees. This information must be submitted through Survey Monkey by COB Friday, September 10, 2021.  Please ensure your timely attention to this due date and ensure data is comprehensive and accurate.  The survey questions are attached in this Program Update and the survey may be assessed through this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HCTB72G Please reach out to your Regional Coordinator if you have any questions about this survey.

IMPORTANT: Grantee Budgets and Project Dates Overview

FY2021 and CARES Funding:

• In April 2021, Grantees submitted an Activity in SmartSimple called “Revised CARES 2.0/3.0/FY21 Budget Submission”. Within this activity Grantees noted that projected end date for each of the funding streams and a budget covering the total amount awarded.
• The Program Office is conducting a review on current funding/spending levels of the CARES 2.0/3.0/FY21 funds so as to determine any redistribution of resources required to serve Veterans in need.
• Please review the Activity and current spending to be prepared for conversations with your Regional Coordinator

Shallow Subsidy Funding:

• Grantees have submitted MOAs to the Program Office for the Shallow Subsidies
• Within SmartSimple an Activity “Shallow Subsidy Budget” is available with a due date of 9/10/2021
• The budget period for these funds is 9/1/2021 to 9/30/2023

FY2022 Funding:

• Grantees have been notified via email letter about FY2022 awards with a start date of October 1, 2021
• FY2022 MOAs will be distributed after October 1, 2021
• The budget period for these funds is 10/1/2021 to 9/30/2022, with extension being considered as needed
• Grantees will submit a FY22 budget within the 2^nd quarter of FY2022, so as to allow for accurate projections after the CARES 2.0/CARES 3.0/FY21 and been expended.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your Regional Coordinator.

REGISTER: SSVF National Webinar & Office Hours Schedule for The Month of September

The SSVF Program Office would like all Grantees to be aware of several webinars and Office Hours being held during the month of September. 

September 9, 2021: SSVF National Webinar Series: SSVF HMIS Closeout

During this webinar, the HMIS TA Team will discuss the closeout of the HMIS Repository, test period for final uploads, final upload dates for the year, and what to do to prepare for the upcoming fiscal year (including HMIS Data Standard changes for FY 2022).  The end of the fiscal year is quickly approaching, which means we have several HMIS reminders for you:

• September 1 – 9, 2021 is the next upload period and is the last chance to get your data quality as high as possible before the final upload period of the fiscal year.
• The last upload of the year will be October 1, 2021 through October 9, 2021 for your entire Fiscal Year 2021 dataset (all client data collected in HMIS from October 1, 2020 through your upload export date). Please remember all the critical steps:

• Upload to the correct slot
• Upload complete & high-quality files
• Upload early and often to ensure the best data for the final fiscal year upload

Please register using the following link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7783975393933888270  After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

September 10, 2021: SSVF Office Hour Series: Introduction to the New Homelessness Prevention Screening Tool

This Office Hour will provide an overview of the new Homelessness Prevention Screening Tool, scheduled to go into effect for all SSVF Grantees in October. The session will provide an overview of the new tool, the process by which the tool was revised, an overview of the new screener's companion guidance, and tips from pilot Grantees on the use of the tool and setting revised Threshold Scores.

Please register using the following link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4351154956482185742 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

September 17, 2021: SSVF Office Hour Series: Homelessness Prevention Core Competencies, Approaches and Training

This Office Hour will provide an overview of some of the key core competencies and skills required for all SSVF staff who screen households for Homelessness Prevention. This will include how the HP Screening process intersects with Housing Problem Solving approaches and Rapid Resolution activities. Grantees will also be provided with an overview of upcoming training and support to be provided in the coming months.

Please register using the following link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5508930804925757454 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

September 24, 2021: SSVF Office Hour Series: Shallow Subsidy: Planning and Implementation

The SSVF Program Office and Technical Assistance Providers will host a Shallow Subsidy Office Hours conference call for SSVF Grantees and their community partners on Friday, September 24, 2021. The SSVF Program Office staff and Technical Assistance staff will provide an overview of recommendations for inclusive and strategic community planning processes, emerging best practices on implementing assessment and targeting strategies, and an overview of Affordable Housing Resources.   

Please register using the following link:  https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8271667075105027856 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

ATTENTION: September is Suicide Prevention Month

Please join the SSVF Program Office in supporting this year’s VA Suicide Prevention campaign called Reach Out. You can make a difference in helping prevent Veteran suicide by educating your staff about the importance of Veteran Suicide Prevention and sharing tools and resources to support this critical effort.   

As a reminder, all SSVF Grantee staff must complete S.A.V.E. training annually by September 30^th.  S.A.V.E. is a Suicide Prevention training course developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Staff should first attempt to request in-person training from their local certified S.A.V.E. trainer, either a VAMC Suicide Prevention Coordinator or Homeless Program Staff Point of Contact (POC). For assistance in locating your local Suicide Prevention Coordinator, click here: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help/local-resources. If in-person training is unavailable, all staff should view the SSVF S.A.V.E. Training Webinar on Suicide Prevention found in the SSVF Program Guide and below, or the PsychArmor S.A.V.E. Training Webinar on YouTube.

• SSVF SAVE Training Webinar: https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/ssvf/docs/SSVF_National_Webinar_2019_12_12_FY2020_Suicide_Prevention.pdf
• VA/PsychArmor SAVE Training Webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49Vg-xM9L7Q&t=3s

SSVF Grantees are encouraged to share VA Suicide Prevention resources with your community partners. Please consider discussing S.A.V.E. Training, the Reach Out campaign, and other Suicide Prevention resources when working with community members at COC, CES, and other homeless provider meetings.

Below are additional resources and opportunities to support Veteran suicide prevention efforts and the Reach Out Campaign. Please ask your staff to familiarize themselves with the following: 

• Add the Veterans Crisis line number: 1-800-273-8255 (press 1 for Veterans) to your phone contacts.
• Use the toolkit found at: REACH.gov/SPM and add this link to your email signature block for Suicide Prevention information, awareness, and resources to share with your staff and fellow community providers. This site provides numerous ideas and resources to help prevent Veteran suicide including offering downloadable e-billboards, posters and ways to post support on social media.
• The Veteran Crisis Line webpage: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net has an array of suicide prevention resources including ways to call, chat, email or text with responders 24/7.
• The VA’s website on Suicide Prevention: Veteran Suicide Prevention | Veterans Affairs (va.gov) outlines VA and community Suicide Prevention resources including mobile apps, ways to access mental health, and resources for families and caregivers.
• Share the “VA Coaching into Care” number, available M-F 8am-8pm, 1-888-823-7458, where Licensed Psychologists and Social Workers will help Veterans and family members access critical VA mental health services.
• Learn the signs of crisis and suicide red flags at: http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/education/signs-of-crisis.
• Share with employees and community members the link to VA’s Mental Health resource page at: http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov to find facilities, treatment options, and information on Veteran mental health concerns.
• Visit the National Center for PTSD: Resources for Survivors and the Public Following Disaster and Mass Violence - PTSD: National Center for PTSD (va.gov) to familiarize yourself with resources for helping Veterans cope in the wake of disasters and trauma.

With Regards,

SSVF Program Office