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SSVF Homelessness Prevention. The New Screening Tool and Screening Process: Grantee Decisions and Actions. Homelessness Prevention Screening Stage 1: VA Eligibility. Condition 1: Veteran status Condition 2: Very low income status (50% AMI)
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SSVF Homelessness Prevention The New Screening Tool and Screening Process: Grantee Decisions and Actions
Homelessness Prevention Screening Stage 1: VA Eligibility • Condition 1: Veteran status • Condition 2: Very low income status (50% AMI) Requirements for determining and documenting Veteran Status and Very Low-Income Status have not changed. Indicate on Eligibility Screening Disposition Documentation Form (aka “Screener”).
Homelessness Prevention Screening Stage 1: VA Eligibility (cont.) • Condition 3: Imminently at-risk of homelessness: 1. Imminent loss of current housing… AND… 2. No other residence… AND… 3. No resources or support networks immediately available to prevent them from becoming homeless… AND…
Homelessness Prevention Screening Stage 1: VA Eligibility (cont.) At least one of the following: • 2 or more moves due to economic reasons during the past 60 days • Living in the home of another due to economic reasons • Has been notified in writing that right to occupy current housing or living situation will be terminated within 21 days • Lives in a hotel/motel not funded by a government or charitable organization • Is exiting an institution without a stable housing plan • Lives in housing that has characteristics associated with instability/risk of homelessness as identified in VA-approved Grantee Screening Criteria and Targeting Threshold Plan Indicate on Eligibility Screening Disposition Documentation Form (aka “Screener”).
Homelessness PreventionScreening Stage 2: Targeting • Points/weights have been assigned for 14 risk factors that have been shown, through research, to increase the likelihood of homelessness • Grantee can propose to VA additional risk factors they want to score
How the total score affects eligibility • Grantee proposes to VA the minimum score (number of points) an applicant must have to be eligible to receive prevention assistance from their SSVF program. • The higher the thresholdscore, the higher the risk (and the more likely the household would become literally homeless if not assisted) • A higher threshold score will reduce the number of eligible applicants; a lower threshold score will increase the number.
How does it all fit together? VA Eligibility factors and the Targeting (risk) score will become the basis for determining whether or not an applicant receives prevention assistance from your program assistance.
Next steps: • Review your data/experience re populations. Are there important groups you would be screening out unless you add additional criteria? Or would those population(s) be eligible using the current Screener—without modifications? • Review your data/projections on request volume. The threshold score can reduce the number of applicants who will qualify for your program. How much reduction do you want? • Fill out and submit the Grantee Screening Criteria and Targeting Threshold Plan form. Timeline: November 9th: Grantee plan (additional criteria and threshold score) submitted to VA Regional Coordinators November 27th: VA Regional Coordinators notify grantees of approved plans or need for revision
New Grantee Site Visits to Mentor Programs • Suggestions for maximizing the value of your visit
Site Visit: New Grantee Responsibilities • Don’t just listen and take notes: think about what you are hearing. • Notice how the mentor’s program fits with VA SSVF philosophy and requirements: • How do the program’s policies and procedures implement philosophy and requirements? • How are staff trained and supervised to carry out the P&P, philosophy, etc.? • How does the program measure the extent to which they are effectively implementing the program—to enable improvements in performance and quality?
“Reflections Tool” • New grantees can use this tool to help design questions for their site visit. • Mentors can use this tool to include discussion around the kinds of topics included in the tool. • New grantees can use the tool to take notes they can take back to their program to further discuss implementation. • The tool and any notes will not be submitted to VA or to TA providers.