Using HUD-VASH to End Veterans Homelessness
What is HUD-VASH?
HUD-VASH (The Department of Housing and Urban Development and Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) is a collaborative program between HUD and the VA to provide housing and supportive services to the most vulnerable Veterans experiencing homelessness and their families. Program participants receive a rental subsidy administered by the local Public Housing Agency (PHA) through the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program and case management and clinical services provided through the administering VA Medical Center (VAMC). HUD-VASH is the principal source of permanent supportive housing for Veterans experiencing homelessness and a critical component of Opening Doors’ goal of ending homelessness among Veterans by 2015. To maximize the effectiveness of HUD-VASH assistance communities should target assistance to vulnerable Veterans and Veterans experiencing chronic homelessness, streamline their processes to rapidly move Veterans into housing, provide case management with supportive services, and foster active collaboration between PHAs, VAMCs, and homeless service providers. In some circumstances, PHAs should consider applying to HUD to project-base a portion of their vouchers if that will expedite the lease-up process for Veterans.
Based on federal guidance and input from local communities, USICH has compiled this toolkit with resources for maximizing the effectiveness of HUD-VASH resources. This toolkit provides guidance to help communities target assistance to vulnerable Veterans and Veterans experiencing chronic homelessness, streamline the placement process to rapidly move Veterans into housing, provide case management with supportive services, and foster active collaboration between PHAs, VAMCs, and homeless service providers. It also provides USICH’s recommendations for when PHAs should consider applying to HUD to project-base a portion of their vouchers.
For more details about improving the success of your HUD-VASH program, click on the links in the toolbar to the left.
