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
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.
List of G&PD Providers in Connecticut:
ABRI/Homes for the Brave
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Bridgeport (37 beds)
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ABRI/Forgotten Soldiers, Female Heroes
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Bridgeport (10 beds) for women
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Friendship Service Center
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New Britain ( 5 beds)
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FISH Shelter, Inc.
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Torrington (5beds)
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Mercy Housing & Shelter Corp.
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Hartford (4 beds)
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Veteran Support Foundation
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West Haven (13 beds) Manchester ( 9 beds)
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South Park Inn
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Hartford (7 beds)
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Danbury City Shelter
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Danbury (3 beds)
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VET House Inc.
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Danbury (4 beds)
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Harkness House
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New Haven (14 beds)
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Community Renewal Team
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East Hartford (12 beds)
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Veterans INC
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New Britain (18 beds)
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Homeless Hospitality Center
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New London (7 beds)
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Spooner House
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Shelton (3 beds)
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McCall Foundation
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Winsted (10 beds)
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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.
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