Continuum of Care Funding Opportunities

Notes from the teleconference on Continuum of Care Funding Opportunities and Challenges -- August 11, 2005

Speakers:

Geoffrey Gilbert-Hamerling, Ph.D, President Polis Consulting Group Inc; polis-consult@adelohia.net

Craig Burnette, Ph.D, CHALENG national coordinator; Craig.Burnette1@med.va.gov

Geoffrey Gilbert-Hamerling:

The Continuum of Care (CoC) Process been evolving over the years in the method used to address homelessness. In 1993, when local communities began to account for the services offered to the homeless, the focus became the gaps of services. In the last 2 years there have been changes in the evaluation process, and in 2005 the CoC planning process will differ from previous years relative to both helping communities with high demand, and providing bonus funding for permanent housing.

You want to get veterans involved in the process, and this sometimes takes some assertiveness to get on the CoC panel. Begin by requesting a seat on the planning committee, and then take the opportunity to describe the resources that you and your organization bring to the table. The VA is a good resource that other organizations may not know how to tap into, so use this to your advantage. If you bring veterans into the mix, you have an opportunity to utilize the resources available from the VA.

Remember, when you submit your application, note that HUD is not looking at the project but at the plan based on the rating criteria.

Rating Criteria for the Continuum of Care:

1. Process and strategy

      a. coordinated and inclusive process

      b. comprehensive strategy

      c. strategy to end chronic homelessness

      d. local plan to remove regulatory barriers

      e. participation in Energy Start

      f. HMIS Implementation

      g. Gaps and Priorities

      h. description of analysis undertaken

      i. proposed projects consistent with analysis

2. Leveraging and Supplemental Resources

3. Emphasis on Housing Activities

4. Performance Measurement

By working with the chronically homeless, you are creating a new avenue for serving veterans since a large population falls into this category. If your organization can be flexible when working with different populations, you may be able to apply and receive more funding for serving the general population. However, if you are looking to get funds specifically for veterans, you will need to focus on the data that supports the number of homeless in your area related to veterans. This comes from the VA CHALENG report. The VA funding sources generally have the requirement that at least 75% of your population be veterans.

HUD is really beginning to focus on and devote more funds to permanent housing. They feel that in order to really help a homeless person, it is necessary to move them into permanent housing.

There are several HUD/VA publications that can help veteran organizations to get involved. HUD has a document titled Coordinating Resources and Developing Strategies to Address the Needs of Homeless Veterans, and HUD has a publication titled A Place at the Table: Homeless Veterans and Local Homeless Assistance Planning Networks.

Dr. Craig Burnette:

The VA website, www.va.gov, has the latest CHALENG report available for download.

Over the past 10 years, the VA has gone from zero beds for homeless veterans to having over 10,000 beds today. One of the reasons this has happened is the data provided in the CHALENG reports.  Funding for VA grant programs is based on data from this report. VA’s funding priority continues to be transitional housing.

CHALENG Report

The local CoC ties the services provided to veterans with the needs of local communities in one annual report. Most of the information is gathered by the local VA hospitals and lists the resources by region. Data is gathered and then analyzed by the CHALENG office. The data in this report can be very helpful in establishing the need for additional resources.

The CHALENG Process

In 1994, the VA launched Project CHALENG (Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups) for Veterans, an innovative program designed to enhance the continuum of care for homeless veterans provided by the local VA and its surrounding community service agencies. The guiding principle behind Project CHALENG is that no single agency can provide the full spectrum of services required to help homeless veterans become productive members of society. Project CHALENG enhances coordinated services by bringing the VA together with community agencies and other federal, state and local governments that provide services to the homeless to raise awareness of homeless veterans' needs and to plan to meet those needs.

The legislation guiding this initiative is contained in Public Laws 102-405, 103-446 and 105-114. The specific legislative requirements relating to Project CHALENG are that local medical centers and regional office directors:

·         Assess the needs of homeless veterans living in the area.                   

·         Make the assessment in coordination with representatives from state and local governments, appropriate federal departments and agencies and non-governmental community organizations that serve the homeless population.                   

·         Identify the needs of homeless veterans with a focus on health care, education and training, employment, shelter, counseling and outreach.                   

·         Assess the extent to which homeless veterans' needs are being met.                   

·         Develop a list of all homeless services in the local area.                   

·         Encourage the development of coordinated services.                   

·         Take action to meet the needs of homeless veterans.                   

·         Inform homeless veterans of non-VA resources that are available in the community to meet their needs.

At the local level, VA medical centers and regional offices designate CHALENG Points of Contact (POCs) who are responsible for the above requirements. These CHALENG POCs – usually local VA homeless center/project coordinators – work with local agencies throughout the year to coordinate services for homeless veterans.

Annual Project CHALENG Report and Individual Site Profiles

Each year Project CHALENG publishes a report summarizing the results of annual surveys of both local VA staff and community participants (local government, service providers, formerly and currently homeless veterans). These surveys ask for current perceptions of homeless veterans’ needs, the degree of VA/community cooperation and collaboration in serving homeless veterans, and progress on local homeless veteran program initiatives. The most recent CHALENG report for FY 2004 (The Eleventh Annual Progress Report on Public Law 105-114: Services for Homeless Veterans Assessment and Coordination) is available online at http://www1.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=17. The Report includes both VISN (Veterans Integrated Service Network) and Facility data.