From:                                         SSVF

Sent:                                           Friday, October 4, 2024 12:11 AM

Subject:                                     SSVF Program Update Friday October 4, 2024

 

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

October 4, 2024          

 

 

NEW: SSVF Monthly National Webinar - Engagement with Unsheltered Veterans or those staying in Encampments October 24, 2024, at 2:00 PM ET 

NEW: Homeless Prevention Services Update for FY25 

RESOURCE: Updated Emergency Housing Assistance Referral Form: Encampment Version 

RESOURCE: SSVF Guidance on Administrative Cost Allocation for FY 25 

RESOURCE: SSVF Program Office FY2023 Annual Report 

REMINDER: Final Office Hours – FY 2024 Homelessness Goals: October 10, 2024 

 

 

 

NEW: SSVF Monthly National Webinar - Engagement with Unsheltered Veterans or those staying in Encampments October 24, 2024, at 2:00 PM ET 

The SSVF Program Office in collaboration with our technical assistance team will provide information about working with unsheltered Veterans or those staying in encampments across the United States. We will discuss best practices for addressing encampment outreach, information about use of emergency housing assistance (EHA) with Veterans having limited temporary housing options, and the critical collaboration with VA and non-VA partners to quickly address permanent housing needs.   

 

NOTE: The monthly SSVF Program Office webinar date has been moved to October 24, 2024, at 2:00pm ET. 

 

Register in advance for this webinar: 

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_E8m5r9aSSCG4t9AHoXc9xQ 

 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. 

 

 

NEW: Homeless Prevention Services Update for FY25 

The SSVF Program Office will be extending the Rapid Rehousing Waiver period to October 1, 2025. This will allow grantees the flexibility to address the needs identified within their service area.  Despite the shift, Grantees may still be asked to demonstrate how they will continue to prioritize Veterans experiencing literal homelessness in their service area, to ensure resources are available for this priority group.   

 

SSVF’s Homelessness Prevention (HP) assistance is intended to prevent Veteran families from losing housing resulting in literal homelessness, it is not an eviction prevention program.  As Veteran households present for HP support, it will be imperative that grantees conduct intentional Rapid Resolution conversations, as not all who are losing their current housing will result in homeless.  It is important to explore other safe and appropriate housing options that may be available while they work on a pathway back to their housing goal.  Such Veterans may be enrolled under Stage 1 under Homelessness Prevention and provided Rapid Resolution services and supports that would help them avoid literal homelessness without the need for significant Temporary Financial Assistance. Per the 2021 HP Companion Guide, Veterans may be enrolled under Stage 1 if they indicate they anticipate becoming homeless in the next 30 days and grantees can use Rapid Resolution and services such as legal assistance even if the Veteran household does not qualify for or need more intensive financial supports.  

 

As a reminder, the SSVF Program Office released the updated HP screening tool in September of 2021, HP Screening Tool.  The SSVF Program Office will be reviewing HP Threshold scores submitted with your FY25 Resolution to ensure that all grantees have reviewed and adjusted their scores to ensure the needs of the community can be met with this extended waiver.   

 

Contact your Regional Coordinator should you have any questions about this waiver extension.   

 

 

RESOURCE: Updated Emergency Housing Assistance Referral Form: Encampment Version 

The SSVF Program Office and Homeless Program Office are actively monitoring encampment sweeps. Effective immediately, grantees in areas impacted by encampment sweeps can use the form Linked Here to quickly assess and place Veterans into hotel/motel using emergency housing assistance (EHA).  

 

This guidance is to be used in locations where there are active sweeps of encampments occurring and use of shelter (HCHV, GPD, Community, etc.) is not immediately available for Veterans impacted by those sweeps or the specific needs of the Veteran household require use of hotel/motel.   

 

 

RESOURCE: SSVF Guidance on Administrative Cost Allocation for FY 25 

The SSVF Program Office would like to provide additional information and updates regarding the methods to account for administrative costs.  As stated in SSVF regulations eCFR :: 38 CFR 62.70 -- Financial management and administrative costs. a maximum of 10% of your grant award total may be used for administrative costs. Administrative costs are defined as all direct and indirect costs associated with the management of the program. These costs include the administrative costs, both direct and indirect, of subcontractors. Beginning in FY 25, SSVF will transition to include additional methods to account for administrative costs. The methods to account for administrative costs include:  

1. Traditional Administrative 

2. De Minimis 

3. Indirect Cost Rate (current ICR or negotiate an ICR with VA Homeless Programs) 

Each SSVF Grantee must elect on their FY 25 budget resolution which administrative costs method will be used for FY 25. Regardless of the method used, administrative costs must be segregated in the General Ledger (GL) and remain capped at 10 percent. Modified Administrative Cost Approach (MACA) will no longer be an option for administrative costs in FY 25. Further guidance and technical support will be offered to assist with this transition. Please ensure fiscal staff are aware of this updated guidance.  If you have any questions please contact your Regional Coordinator or email ssvf@va.gov .   

 

 

RESOURCE: SSVF Program Office FY2023 Annual Report  

This report covers the twelfth grant period for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, including awards made in 2022 for the FY 2023 period (October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023). The report summarizes the results attained by the 250 SSVF grantees funded for FY 2023. It is intended to inform Congress and the public about the grantees’ important work helping to prevent and end homelessness among our nation’s Veterans.  

 

This report uses data reported by grantees through local Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) and subsequently provided to VA via monthly uploads to the SSVF HMIS data repository. With the FY 2023 Annual Report, additional exhibits utilizing the SSVF Equity Report were added. Additional information was obtained from grantee quarterly reports and surveys of SSVF program participants.  

 

The full report is available on the SSVF website and by following the link: https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/ssvf/docs/SSVF_Annual_Report_FY23.pdf 

 

 

REMINDER: Final Office Hours – FY 2024 Homelessness Goals: October 10, 2024 

The next Fiscal year (FY) 2024 Homelessness Goals Office Hours call will be on Thursday, October 10, 2024. This call will provide guidance on final actions for the fiscal year and incorporating trauma-informed care into homeless program operations. 

Please note: October’s call has been rescheduled from October 3, 2024, to October 10, 2024, in observance of Rosh Hashanah. 

VA staff and VA-funded grantees should ensure that they have representation on this call. Other relevant stakeholders (e.g., VA-funded contractors, Continuum of Care partners, and public housing agency partners) are strongly encouraged to attend.  

These calls are held at 3:00 p.m. Eastern / 12:00 p.m. Pacific.  

Please forward this reminder as appropriate.  

If you need the ongoing invitation, please email VHA11HPO38kGoalSupport@va.gov 

Access the recordings and slides for previous calls 

 

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Webinar ID: 856 8160 1911