From: SSVF

Sent: Friday, July 30, 2021 12:27 PM

Subject: SSVF Program Update Friday July 30, 2021

TOPICS:

UPDATE: End of Eviction Moratoriums

REMINDER: National Center for Homelessness Among Veterans Survey – Voluntary Representative Payee

The Treasury Department now maintains a list of Emergency Rental Assistance Programs (ERAP) assistance by state. These programs can provide the financial assistance necessary to prevent evictions. This broader mandate, preventing evictions rather than SSVF’s more focused mandate to prevent homelessness, may mean that ERAP is a resource for some Veterans who would not be eligible for SSVF prevention services. Find providers at: Find rental assistance | U.S. Department of the Treasury

SSVF’s Stage 2 Homeless Prevention Screener is an important tool for prioritizing eligible Veterans who are likely to become homeless since research indicates that most of those who are evicted do not become homeless. However, COVID-19’s economic impact has placed many more renters at-risk. In response, the SSVF Program Office issued guidance that gave SSVF Grantees broad flexibility in delivering prevention services. While the Stage 2 Screener was reinstated on January 1, Grantees can choose a threshold score that meets the anticipated increase in service demands that may occur with the end of Eviction Moratoriums. Additionally, Grantees have been provided substantial additional funding through CARES and the 40% cap on prevention spending has been lifted for FY 2021.

SSVF Grantees are also encouraged to enroll prevention cases that meet Stage 1, but not Stage 2 Screening in order to provide diversion services and help facilitate access to ERAP assistance. As ERAP does not offer services, SSVF may co-enroll providing services while ERAP provides rental assistance.

REMINDER: National Center for Homelessness Among Veterans Survey – Voluntary Representative Payee

The National Center for Homelessness among Veterans is working to develop a demonstration project to help veterans access voluntary budgeting and payee services. This would be different from the VA’s fiduciary program and would involve non-VA agencies providing representative payee (rep payee) services to veterans on a voluntary basis (not a conservatorship). We would like to learn how many agencies currently provide services or would be equipped to provide such services as we explore the opportunity to work with sites around the country. Please take a few moments to complete this quick survey as we work with the National Center on this intriguing project.

The survey can be found at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/reppayee and will close on August 2, 2021.

Regards,

SSVF Program Office