Agenda

Return

D.3

To:	Contra Costa County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners
From:	Joseph Villarreal, Housing Authority
Date:	September 13, 2016

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

AWARD OF HUD-VETERANS AFFAIRS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING GRANTS

Action of Board On: 09/13/2016

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, Commissioner
Candace Andersen, Commissioner
Mary N. Piepho, Commissioner
Karen Mitchoff, Commissioner
Federal D. Glover, Commissioner

ABSENT:

Fay Nathaniel, Commissioner
Jannel George-Oden, Commissioner

Contact:

925-957-8028

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: September 13, 2016
,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATIONS

ACCEPT report on the award of HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers to the Housing Authority from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

BACKGROUND

None. Informational item only.

FISCAL IMPACT

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded the Housing Authority (HACCC) $442,272 in Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2016 funding to support 34 new vouchers under the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION

HACCC currently houses 173 Veterans through the HUD-VASH program. This new allocation of 34 vouchers, combined with existing vouchers will permit HACCC and the VA to house over 220 Veterans through the VASH program. The VASH program is an important component in helping the County reach its Zero: 2106 goals. Zero: 2106 is a national campaign that aims to end veteran and chronic homelessness.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION (CONT'D)

HUD-VASH is a joint effort between HUD and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) designed to move Veterans and their families out of homelessness and into permanent housing. HUD provides Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance, thus allowing homeless Veterans to rent privately-owned housing, and the VA

offers case management and clinical services for participating Veterans at VA medical centers and community-based outreach clinics.

The HUD-VASH program is for veterans who:

Are eligible for VA health care services;
Are chronically homeless, meaning homeless for a year or more or 4 or more times in the past 3 years;
Have a history of medical, mental health or substance abuse problems that are now stabilized;
Are ready for independent housing in the community, but need ongoing case management services to maintain it;
Have some type of income to pay for their housing;
Are motivated to improve the quality of their lives by working with a VA case manager; and
Are actively participating in treatment through the VA for their conditions.