A Notice from the Northampton VA Medical Center:
Dear Providers,
The HUD-VASH program at the Northampton VAMC is now accepting a limited number of new applications.
HUD-VASH is a program that helps eligible homeless veterans find and retain stable independent housing. The program accomplishes this by partnering Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 8 vouchers with Veteran’s Administration Supportive Housing (VASH) case management services. Case management provides ongoing support and monitoring of VASH veterans in the community. It is meant to promote and foster the veteran’s growing independence, recovery, and success as they transition back to living in the community.
We will be accepting provider referrals only. Applications will be issued to providers by request. Both individuals and families can be accepted into HUD-VASH. If you are working with a veteran that you would like to recommend as an appropriate candidate for HUD-VASH, please consider submitting an application on his or her behalf. The following guidelines will help you to identify appropriate candidates:
Basic eligibility requirements are:
· Must be homeless according to the McKinney Act, Title 42, United States Code, Section 11302. See 38 USC 2002 (1). It is as follows:
o An individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence,
OR
o An individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is:
§ A supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations including welfare hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing for the mentally ill;
§ An institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or
§ A public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
● Eligible and enrolled in the VA health care system
● Not on the lifetime registry as a sex offender
● In need of case management in order to achieve and maintain optimal functioning in the community.
For your reference, a successful HUD-VASH client is typically one who is:
· Willing and able to work collaboratively with case management and other service providers and follow treatment recommendations
· Motivated and capable of conducting a housing search
· Able to manage basic activities of independent living such as paying bills, cleaning house, food preparation, being medication compliant on his or her own, etc. (with case management support as needed)
· Sober from drugs and alcohol and participating in some form of relapse prevention or substance abuse treatment
· Engaged, or motivated to engage, in some kind of meaningful daily activity such as work, school, volunteer work, hobbies, etc.
In addition, the following documentation must be included with application:
· DD214
· Birth certificate
· Social security card
· Proof of income (award/benefit letter or employer letter. Check stubs cannot be accepted.)
HUD-VASH INFORMATION SESSIONS WILL BE HELD ON
TUESDAY, JANUARY 12 AND THURSDAY, JANUARY 14 FROM 3:00-4:00 P.M.
NORTHAMPTON VAMC, BUILDING 4 LOWER, ROOM 106.
THESE SESSIONS ARE OPEN TO BOTH PROVIDERS AND VETERANS.
A maximum of 50 applications will be accepted for consideration between January 12 and February 5. Incomplete applications will be returned. While we expect to have many qualified applicants, please be aware that there are a very limited number of openings. Applicants will be prioritized based upon need and ability to use and be successful in the program. Applying is not a guarantee of acceptance to HUD-VASH. If found eligible, the Veteran will be given a screening appointment. A final decision by the VASH admissions committee will then be made and the referring provider will be informed of the outcome.
