Faith-Based and Other Neighborhood Organizations - VA Homeless Programs
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Faith-Based and Other Neighborhood Organizations

For VHA’s faith-based and other neighborhood organization grantees and contractors that provide program services to beneficiaries, this page provides information about the principles that apply to their awards along with guidance and regulations for implementing them.

Executive Orders 13279, Equal Protection of the Laws for Faith-Based and Community Organizations, and 13559, Fundamental Principles and Policymaking Criteria for Partnerships with Faith-Based and Other Neighborhood Organizations, set forth principles and criteria to guide federal agencies in developing policies for faith-based and community organizations that use federal funds to provide social services. These executive orders and the regulations that implement them aim to expand opportunities for, and strengthen the capacity of, these organizations while ensuring equal protection of the law so that we can work together to best meet the needs of America’s communities.

Relevant Regulations
Guidance on Prohibited Uses of Direct Federal Financial Assistance From VA and Protections for Religious Identity

The Guidance on Prohibited Uses of Direct Federal Financial Assistance from VA and Protections for Religious Identity (view PDF) addresses the prohibited uses of direct federal financial assistance from VA, protections for beneficiaries who receive social services provided with direct federal financial assistance from VA, and separation requirements to ensure that faith-based groups are able to retain their religious identify after receiving a VA award. It includes guidance on all the following topics:

  • Prohibited Uses of Direct Financial Assistance from VA
  • Nondiscrimination Requirements for Direct and Indirect VA Financial Assistance
  • Preserving Faith-Based Organizations’ Religious Identity
  • Separation of Explicitly Religious Activities
  • Separate and Distinct Programs
  • Separate Presentations
  • Explicitly Religious and Anti-Religious Activities
  • Cost Allocation
  • Eligibility, Outreach, and Recruitment
  • Availability of Separate Religious Programs
Other Resources for VHA Grantees

Please direct further questions to HomelessVets@va.gov. If you are a SSVF grantee or your question is specific to SSVF funding, please email SSVF@VA.gov.

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Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness can call or visit their local VA Medical Center (VAMC) and ask for a Homeless Coordinator. Use the VA locator tool www.va.gov/directory to find your nearest VAMC and call or visit today.

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