Health Care for Homeless Veterans

VA CT Homeless Services

There are about 360,000 Veterans living in Connecticut, of which 52,000 receive services through the VA CT Healthcare System (VA CT). In the State of Connecticut, many resources have been dedicated to reaching functional zero for Veteran homelessness. However, some Veterans are at risk of homelessness and others fall into homelessness; reside in shelters, or in dismal living conditions or in overcrowded or substandard housing. Some of these Veterans may struggle with mental illness, substance use disorders, or economic hardship. Many Veterans and their families are facing eviction and foreclosure resulting in further vulnerability to becoming homeless.

Healthcare for Homeless Veterans

VA Connecticut’s Homeless Program encompasses a wide array of services (outreach, engagement, triage, and referral to medical and mental health services) and actively engages more than 950 Veterans per year who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or housed in substandard conditions. These services range from emergency shelter housing to various forms of transitional and permanent supportive housing in the community including, rental housing (HUD VASH) vouchers with case management.

The VA CT Homeless Program is made available to all VA healthcare-eligible Veterans. The Homeless Program staff carry out outreach and engagement to Veterans in urban and rural areas of the state and help them gain access to the full array of services offered by the VA Connecticut Healthcare System

The VA CT Homeless Program is designed to connect homeless Veterans or those at risk of homelessness to the established continuum of VA services or community services. These services include such fundamental needs as primary care and mental health supports, and includes specialized services listed below:

· Homeless Veteran outreach and engagement program

· Homeless clinic and provision of basic needs including cold weather items

· Emergency housing referral involving short stay, immediate access

· Grant & Per Diem transitional housing at contracted sites across CT

· Permanent supportive housing with community partners

· Support Services for Veteran Families with case management

· HUD-VASH supportive housing with case management

· Homeless Veteran Supportive employment program

· Community partnerships, advocacy, and education

HCHV Program Eligibility:

Veterans who have an honorable or general discharge from the military and meet the minimum active duty requirements, and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness are eligible for HCHV services. Veterans with other than honorable discharge are eligible for the Grant and Per Diem Program.

In the event a Veteran is ineligible for services, Homeless Program staff will assist Veterans in accessing services through community shelter and housing providers.

Veteran Homeless Clinic Phone Line: 203-479-8064

National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (24/7): 1-877-424-3838 (877-4AID-VET)

Homeless Clinic Hours (no appointments needed):

· West Haven Clinic Hours: 7:30AM-10:00am, Monday-Friday

1:30pm-2:30pm Tuesday-Friday

Errera Community Center, 114-152 Boston Post Rd.

West Haven, CT

· Newington Clinic Hours: 8:30AM-11:00AM, Monday-Friday

Newington VA Campus

555 Willard Avenue

Newington, CT

South Park Inn, Hartford, CT (below)

Veteran's Crossing, East Hartford, CT

VA CT - Transitional Housing Program

VA Connecticut—in conjunction with the Department of Veterans Affairs Grant and Per Diem program—has established contracts with 14 agencies that provide transitional housing for homeless Veterans. Currently, 161 beds are available in urban and rural areas across the state, serving both male and female Veterans.

ELIGIBILITY FOR G&PD program:

Veterans engaged with the VA CT Homeless Program are, in general, eligible for Grant & Per Diem programs if they are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness. Specific program stipulations at partner sites further define eligibility. Providers of the Grant & Per Diem Program may require:

• Participation in VA mental health and/or substance abuse treatment, if indicated

• Involvement in structured community-based activities, such as day programs or jobs

• The willingness to secure income through employment or pensions or other entitlements within a certain timeframe.

• Cooperation in case management services to ensure seamless service plans among all providers, especially between the partner site and VA CT.

Permanent Supportive Housing Resources

VA CT provides Permanent Supportive Housing case management services to Veterans living in a variety of community based supportive housing complexes. Although HUD VASH is the biggest Supportive Housing initiative (see goals for HUD VASH) other Veterans choose to live in safe, affordable housing with services integrated into the development. This allows immediate support should the Veteran have mental health, medical, or other psycho-social needs. VT CT provides case management to over sixty-five Veterans living in supportive housing units owned by community agencies and private partners. Permanent Housing Specialists make visits with these Veterans on a monthly or bi-monthly basis to ensure they are doing well living independently. The PHS staff assist Veterans to understand the local tenancy rights and rules, make appropriate referrals for treatment and employment, advocate on behalf of the Veteran, and help them access security deposit and services to be successful in the community

HUD-VASH Supported Housing Program:

HUD-VASH is partnership between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the VA. Through this joint program rental subsidies are offered to chronically homeless Veterans who suffer from serious mental illness and substance addictive disorders or who need on-going case management to live independently. Veterans are referred through the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Outreach Team via consult by the Veteran’s mental health or substance abuse clinician or by community providers. Eligible Veterans are screened by the ECCC Housing Committee and if selected, enter into the HUD-VASH case management. A local public housing authority processes the application for the Section 8 voucher and does housing inspections. Housing search and clinical case management is provided by the VASH case managers at the VA and in the community.

ELIGIBILITY: The HUD-VASH program is targeted to the chronically homeless Veteran. It is designed for Veteran individuals and families who demonstrate the need for case management so they can live independently.

To be eligible, the Veteran must:

• be eligible for VA Healthcare

• meet chronic homeless criteria or other priority categories(high vulnerability index and homeless episodes)

• meet income guidelines

• demonstrate a need for case management

• willingness to engage in case management

• Veteran cannot be on the lifetime sex offender registry

To Contact HUD-VASH:

West Haven - 203-932-5711 x 1330

Newington - 860-594-6353

This is a website maintained by Veterans and volunteers. While the contents of this site have been developed in cooperation with VA personnel, it is not an official site of the Department of Veterans Affairs.