Alliance Publishes Map of VA "Surge" Funding for SSVF








March 11, 2014    
ISSUES  |  POLICY  |  SOLUTIONS  |  NEWS & EVENTS Forward Editor: Emanuel Cavallaro


Spotlight On...
Alliance Publishes Map of VA "Surge" Funding for SSVF


The Alliance has published on its website an interactive map of the 78 communities that will receive a new, one time "surge" of an additional $300 million in funding over the next three years under the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. The map identifies and provides details on the current state of veteran homelessness in the 78 communities, and notes the amount of funding available for prospective grantees in each community.
These 78 communities are believed to have the highest need for increased funding based on number of homeless veterans, veteran population, economic levels, and unmet needs. The deadline for applying for funding under the VA's SSVF program is 4 pm ET on Friday, March 14.





President Proposes Increases in Homeless Assistance Funding
Last Tuesday, March 4, the Obama Administration released its complete fiscal year (FY) 2015 Budget Proposal. The proposed increases to the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants, along with the proposed increases for targeted homeless assistance programs within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), demonstrate a commitment on the part of the Administration to end veteran homelessness by the end of 2015 and chronic homelessness by the end of 2016.
The FY 2015 Budget Proposal includes funding levels for various key programs targeted at low-income people or people experiencing homelessness that include:
  • $2.405 billion for the HUD's McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants program, a 14 percent increase over the FY 2014 level;
  • $1.6 billion for targeted homeless veteran programs within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a 12.5 percent increase over the FY 2014 level;
  • $114 million for Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs, representing level funding from the FY 2014 level;
  • $20.045 billion for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, a 4.5 percent increase over the FY 2014 level. This includes $75 million for about 10,000 new HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers;
  • $9.746 billion for Project-Based Rental Assistance, a 1.7 percent decrease below the FY 2014 level; and
  • $74 million for homeless programs within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, representing level funding from the FY 2014 level.
Senate, House Committees Consider Administration's FY 2015 Budget Proposal
Last Wednesday, March 5, the Senate Budget Committee, chaired by Sen. Murray (D-WA), and the House Budget Committee, chaired by Rep. Ryan (R-WI), held separate hearings on the President's fiscal year (FY) 2015 budget proposal. Sole witness for both hearings, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, director of the Office of Management and Budget, spoke about how the investments proposed in the President's budget would expand opportunity and spur job creation and economic growth. She noted the priority that the President placed on ending veteran and chronic homelessness in his budget proposal, and highlighted the role that rental assistance programs play in preventing homelessness.



HUD has announced a notice of funding availability (NOFA) for $120 million in new project-based rental assistance for supportive housing for people with disabilities and extremely low incomes. In this new round of funding under the 811 Demonstration program, HUD expects to make grants in amounts ranging from $2 million to $12 million. The deadline for applying is May 5, 2014.

To be eligible for the awards, state housing agencies must have formal agreements with their Medicaid agencies to provide home and community-based services to tenants. Awards are limited to one per state. In the first round of grants, HUD made awards totaling $85 million to 13 states.
The Administration released its FY 2015 Budget Proposal on Tuesday, March 4. In it, President Obama proposes, among other things, significant new resources for homelessness programs, including a $200 million increase for a program that serves homeless veterans and their families. In this post, we provide a quick rundown of what we should be able to accomplish with these funding increases
Conference Lessons: Building Supports for Homeless Youth
By Sam Batko
In this post, the Alliance's Homeless Research Institute Director takes a look back at a workshop from our 2014 National Conference on Ending Family and Youth Homelessness: Building Supports for Homeless Youth.

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