Welcome Home. Eligibility for Programs

Transcription

1 Welcome Home Eligibility for Programs The programs and services described in Welcome Home have eligibility requirements your Triage Worker or Case Manager will help you understand. If you served in the military and it seems you do not meet these requirements, do not give up. Your Case Manager will work with you to identify other programs and resources that may help prevent your homelessness or help move you on from homelessness. Some of the basic eligibility requirements for the programs and services are: 1. You are a veteran and are without housing or in danger of losing your housing 2. You have served at least some time in the active military, and were released under conditions other than dishonorable. Your Triage Worker or Case Manager will also assist you to secure the following documentation: Birth Certificate Social Security Card Picture ID Homeless Verification Letter DD 214.

2 Prevention Supportive Services for Veterans Father Bill s & MainSpring (FBMS) offers the Supportive Services for Veterans (SSVF) Program to help veterans who are in immediate danger of losing their housing stay in their current housing situation. We recognize that short term assistance, whether it is through case management, connecting you to other resources, or financial assistance, is key to sustained and stable housing. Supportive Services for Veterans provides a variety of assistance to get you (and your family if applicable) back on track to keep your current housing by: Intensive Short Term Case Management. You will be assigned a dedicated Case Manager who will work with you to better understand your current situation, and identify what services we can provide and to which agencies you should be connected. Referral Service. Your Case Manager will work with you to better understand your current financial situation and determine all the benefits you might be qualified for. We work with you to ensure you have a plan for healthcare, employment, and finances. Life Skills Assistance. Each SSVF participant is asked to participate in a professionally-run budgeting and credit class. Temporary Financial Assistance. We offer financial assistance for a variety of needs such as paying unpaid rental and utilities, moving costs, as well as others determined on a case-by-case basis. The goal of this financial assistance is to help keep you in your home. Referral from the VA, homeless shelter or social or veteran services agency/facility Assessment interview with the veteran specialist Case Manager Photo by Jack Foley

3 Prevention Tenancy Preservation Program Father Bill s and MainSpring offers the Tenancy Preservation Program staff (TPP) to work with tenants, including families who have children with disabilities, who are facing eviction as a result of behavior related to a disability (e.g. mental illness, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, aging-related impairments). TPP functions as a neutral party to the landlord and tenant in Plymouth and Bristol Counties to help tenants and landlords avoid costly evictions. TPP consults with the Housing Court Department and works with the property owner and tenant to determine whether the disability can be reasonably accommodated and the tenancy preserved. TPP assesses the reasons for the eviction, identifies needed services, develops treatment plans to maintain the tenancy, and monitors cases for as long as is necessary. TPP makes regular reports to all parties involved in the case (i.e. the Court, property owner, and tenant). If the Tenancy cannot be preserved, TPP, though not a housing search program, helps coordinate the tenant s transition to a more appropriate placement, preventing homelessness whenever possible. The application process varies by case. You must meet all criteria for eligibility such as being residents of Plymouth or Bristol Counties, the tenant or a household member must have a disability that is having a negative impact on the tenancy, and potential for eviction must be imminent.

4 Transition to Housing Working on Recovery through Triage to Housing Father Bill s and MainSpring offers the Working on Recovery through Triage to Housing (WORTH) program to connect veterans utilizing Father Bill s and MainSpring (FBMS) emergency and family shelters. The goal is to quickly move veterans and their families out of shelter and on to more stable treatment or housing options. Supportive services are provided by a dedicated Triage Worker at the shelter, who will provide you with intensive case management services to connect you with: Employment assistance through job search, resume and interview skill building Referral to appropriate housing options Direct connection with local veteran representative for cash assistance Benefits to being in the WORTH Program include: Emergency Shelters Security of same bed status in a designated veteran area within the shelter Laundry service on designated evenings at shelter AA meetings on designated nights Designated sleeping area specific to WORTH Participants With permission from your Triage Worker, you may be eligible for late entry to the shelter, approved overnights, or permission to stay in the building during the day on an as needed basis Family Shelter Private bedroom With permission from your Triage Worker, you may be eligible for approved overnights outside shelter Access to laundry Full kitchens to cook your own meals Volunteer groups assist with children while you are in the shelter working with your Triage Worker on your permanent housing plan

5 VA referrals: If you are being referred by the VA, your VA social worker should submit a VA release of information and a WORTH referral form directly to the Coordinator of the Women s Veterans Homelessness Program. The coordinator consults with shelter staff to determine acceptance to the program. Emergency and Family Shelter referral If you are in the emergency or family shelter, your Triage-Worker will talk with you about your eligibility for WORTH. Your Triage-Worker will then coordinate with the VA regarding your eligibility. Once the VA determines you are eligible, you will be enrolled in the program. Lauren Dever, LICSW VA Program Manager (857)

6 Transition to Housing Supportive Services for Veterans Father Bill s & MainSpring (FBMS) offers the Supportive Services for Veterans (SSVF) Program to help veterans who don t currently have housing, for example, veterans living in emergency shelter or living unstably with others. We recognize that short term assistance, whether it is through case management, connecting you to other resources, or financial assistance, is key to sustained and stable housing. Supportive Services for Veterans provides a variety of assistance to get you (and your family if applicable) back on track to keep your current housing by: Intensive Short Term Case Management. You will be assigned a dedicated Case Manager who will work with you to better understand your current situation, and identify what services we can provide and to which agencies you should be connected. Referral Service. Your Case Manager will work with you to better understand your current financial situation and determine all the benefits you might be qualified for. We work with you to insure you have a plan for healthcare, employment, and finances. Life Skills Assistance. Each SSVF participant is asked to participate in a professionally-run budgeting and credit class. Temporary Financial Assistance. We offer financial assistance for a variety of needs such as paying unpaid rental and utilities, moving costs, as well as others determined on a case-by-case basis. The goal of this financial assistance is to help keep you in your home. Referral from the VA, homeless shelter or social or veteran services agency/facility Assessment interview with the veteran specialist Case Manager

7 Transition to Housing Grant and Per Diem Program Father Bill s and MainSpring offers the Grant and Per Diem Program (GPD) to provide supportive transitional housing to homeless veterans to help them achieve residential stability, increase their employment skills and/or income and obtain greater self determination. GPD is a program for both men and women. GPD is a temporary transitional sober living program for veterans whose long term goal is permanent housing. Each GPD participant is provided with a Case Manager. The Case Manager s job is to help you work toward permanent housing by helping you to clear up housing, credit, income, and other barriers which have stood in your way. While in GPD, you will live in a furnished studio apartment that includes cooking amenities and private bath. Referral from the VA, homeless shelter or social services agency/facility Assessment interview with the GPD site Case Manager A CORI check, which GPD staff can help you with Placement on a waiting list after assessment is approved

8 Transition to Housing Permanent Supportive Housing The Father Bill s and MainSpring (FBMS) Permanent Supportive Housing Program (PSH) works with individuals and families who may need longer term assistance. Once a veteran moves into PSH, a dedicated FBMS Case Manager provides support to the veteran (and his/her family if applicable) so the veteran is able to sustain permanent housing. Our PSH is for households who are experiencing homelessness, very low income, and may have difficulty accessing mainstream housing due to challenges and/or a disability usually related to physical challenges, mental illness, or past substance abuse. We service individuals and families across the South Shore of Massachusetts in Norfolk and Plymouth Counties. Candidates must meet the definition of Chronically Homeless for most permanent supportive housing programs. Participants pay 30% of their income toward rent/program fees; however, if the participant has no income, there would be no program fee/ rental portion until income has been obtained. Key elements of the PSH include: A focus on helping individuals and families access and sustain permanent rental housing as quickly as possible without time limits A variety of services delivered to promote housing stability and individual well-being on an as-needed basis A standard lease agreement between the participant/ tenant and landlord as opposed to mandated therapy or services compliance You should discuss your eligibility for the PSH with your Triage Worker in the emergency or family shelter.

9 Employment and Training Services U.S. Workforce Father Bill s & MainSpring (FBMS) created the U.S. Workforce Program to offer job preparation training, job placement, and housing services for veterans who are homeless or soon to be homeless due to a court ordered eviction. Recognizing that a stable income is the key to sustained housing, U.S. Workforce helps you reintegrate into the workforce. Employment supportive services provided by a dedicated FBMS team, who will: Help you identify opportunities for service connectivity Work with you to build valuable life skills and provide training in areas such as budgeting and credit management, computer literacy and job interviewing Enroll you in continuing education and job preparation classes in fields such as: - Transportation - Security - Automotive - Commercial Cleaning - Food Services - Health Care Assist you in resume building When you are ready, introduce you to prospective employers through existing and ever-growing relationships Referral from the VA, homeless shelter or social services agency/facility Assessment interview with the veteran services specialist

10 Other Resources for Veterans We work with the following agencies to enhance the opportunities you have to move out of homelessness. Department of Veterans Services of Massachusetts (DVS) The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a long history of caring for those who served in our military. DVS has many programs funded by the Commonwealth. Each city and town in Massachusetts is required to have a Veteran s Service Officer whose job it is to provide resources and assistance to veterans living in their communities. DVS may be able to help veterans who are not eligible for VA services. 600 Washington St. Boston, MA MDVS@vet.state.ma.us Web Site: (info on all MA vet benefits) Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC) Brockton 940 Belmont Street Brockton, MA Jamaica Plain 150 S. Huntington Avenue Boston, MA West Roxbury 1400 VFW Parkway West Roxbury, MA Veteran Crisis Hotline TALK (8255) Press 1 VA s Homeless Veteran Hotline General VA Assistance Hotline AID VET ( ) Photo by Jack Foley