Veterans

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) offers various housing programs for veterans. If you are currently incarcerated—whether in a state or federal facility—a “VA Reentry Specialist” is supposed to arrange a meeting with you about your goals to determine the resources available to best meet your needs after release.

What is a VA Reentry Specialist and how can I contact one to help me find housing?

Every region of the U.S. has a VA Reentry Specialist who can help determine your eligibility for VA benefits, help you enroll in the VA, and connect you with local housing and services. VA Reentry Specialists have relationships with both state and federal correctional facilities to help incarcerated veterans plan and prepare for release.[1197]

If you already met with the VA Reentry Specialist and received instructions for housing, you should continue with those arrangements. If you are starting from scratch, the VA’s Health Care for Homeless Veteran program can help you find housing in your area. You should visit your local VA, if possible, or call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans hotline available 24/7 at 1-877-4-AID-VET (424-3838). There you will find a VA counselor available to help you.

Your VA Housing options include the following programs:

HELPFUL RESOURCES

HEALTH CARE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS CONTRACTS (HCHV) –

The HCHV program provides emergency housing, shelters, and treatment to veterans enrolled in VA Healthcare, through local community organizations and service providers. These local community organizations and service providers may offer outreach, exams, treatment, referrals, and case management to veterans who are homeless and dealing with mental health issues.[1198]

    For information about the HCHV program, please visit: http://www.va.gov/homeless/hchv.asp
    For list of HCHV coordinators in California, please visit: http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/docs/HCHV_Sites_ByState.pdf

SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES GRANTS (SSVF) –

Local non-profit organizations receive funding from the VA to assist low-income veterans (and their families) who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. SSVF programs can help you transition to permanent housing, along with case management and assistance with getting other benefits and services.[1199]

For a list of current SSVF providers, please visit the following website: http://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp

HELPFUL HINTConnecting with legal services providers through an SSVF program:

Participating SSVF programs may provide or may contract with local legal aid organizations to provide Veterans with legal services. (Veterans ineligible for VA Enrollment may be eligible to receive SSVF assistance if available. Inquire at your VA if this option is an option for you).

VA SUPPORTIVE HOUSING (HUD-VASH) PROGRAM –

HUD-VASH is a joint effort between HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development) and VA to move veterans and their families out of homelessness and into permanent housing. HUD provides Section 8 vouchers to eligible veterans, and the VA offers eligible homeless veterans clinical and supportive services through its health care system.

Veterans applying for Section 8 Housing Vouchers through the HUD-VASH program are subject to most Section 8 Housing eligibility rules (for example, your income).[1200]

THERE IS AN IMPORTANT EXCEPTION TO CRIMINAL RECORD BANS IN GOVERNMENT-ASSISTED HOUSING FOR VETERANS:

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HUD-VASH applicants are not subject to most Section 8 regulations regarding criminal and/or drug-related history. This means that Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) cannot deny Section 8 housing to HUD-VASH applicants based off the applicant’s prior drug activity or criminal record (unless you or someone in your household is subject to a lifetime sex offender registration—know as “290 registration” in California—in which case the PHA can still deny you and your household from Section 8 housing programs).[1201]

MENTAL HEALTH RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION AND TREATMENT (MH RRTP) PROGRAMS—

MH RRTP provide residential rehabilitation and treatment services for veterans with multiple and severe medical conditions, mental illness, addiction, or psychosocial deficits.[1202] MH RRTP programs promote rehabilitation, recovery, health maintenance, improved quality of life, and community integration, in addition to treatment of medical conditions, mental illnesses, addictive disorders, and homelessness. The residential program helps veterans to develop a lifestyle self-care, personal responsibility, and medical health.[1203]

    For more information about MH RRTP and other residential VA programs, please visit the following website: https://www.calvet.ca.gov/VetHomes
    Please note: VA Housing providers are required to verify you are free of Tuberculosis (Tb). If you have had a Tb test within the past year, you should request a copy of the results before your release from incarceration. If you do not have a recent Tb clearance, request the test so you can have this document available.
  1. 1197

    See Dep’t of Veterans Affairs, Guidebook for California Incarcerated, http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/docs/ Reentry/09_ca.pdf. ↑

  2. 1198

    See Dep’t of Veterans Affairs, Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program, http://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=3006. ↑

  3. 1199

    See Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program, U.S. Dep’t of Veterans Affairs, http://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf.asp. ↑

  4. 1200

    For information about the HUD-VASH program, see Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers: Implementation of the HUD–VA Supportive Housing Program, 73 Fed. Reg. 25026 (May 6, 2008). ↑

  5. 1201

    Dep’t of Veterans Affairs, Guidebook for California Incarcerated Veterans (4th ed. 2009). ↑

  6. 1202

    Dep’t of Veterans Affairs, Guidebook for California Incarcerated Veterans (4th ed. 2009), http://www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/docs/Reentry/09_ca.pdf. ↑

  7. 1203

    Dep’t of Veterans Affairs, Guidebook for California Incarcerated Veterans (4th ed. 2009), http://www1.va.gov/HOMELESS/docs/Reentry/09_ca.pdf. ↑