Veterans Supportive Services Program
Creative Housing Solutions for Our Homeless Vets
- VETERAN’S SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM
The initial purpose of the Patriot’s Housing Initiative was to acquire ownership in a significant number of properties across the country. However, it quickly became evident that there were numerous opportunities to provide the badly-needed residences for homeless Veterans where an equity interest was not the optimal solution. By integrating a stand-alone Veteran’s Supportive Service program into an existing property provided a WIN/WIN/WIN situation for all parties involved.
There has been tremendous success with the Veteran’s permanent supportive housing coming together with mission-committed Not-For-Profit organizations, public officials, investors, syndicators, service providers, community leaders, and others. These properties give homeless and very low-income Veterans the help they need to achieve stability in their lives.
Early efforts have identified two basic elements of successful Veteran’s permanent supportive housing that breaks the cycle of homelessness:
- Property-based rental assistance, essential for serving extremely low-income Veterans;
- Supportive services, funded by dedicated sources that allow the housing operations and the services to be sustained side by side.
HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH)
stands out as an effective tool for combating Veteran homelessness. It combines rental assistance through HUD Housing Choice Vouchers with case management through the VA. Most HUD-VASH vouchers are deployed as portable assistance for use in any rental housing that will accept them.
The VA’s Grant and Per-Diem program
funds community agencies to serve homeless Veterans using a combination of capital grant and operation subsidy for supportive housing and supportive services. The program primarily aims at providing temporary or transitional assistance, but it has also been used at sites providing permanent supportive housing among other options.
Benefits To the Property Owner
When used in conjunction with the various VA programs, the following benefits should be realized regardless of which program is put in place:
- Substantial VA demand should dramatically improve current occupancies
- HUD-VASH and VA per diem tenancy dramatically reduces credit loss and loss-to-lease
- Non Profit “Sponsorship” affords priority access to VA tenants ( per diem and HUD-VASH)
- HUD – VASH & per diem rent have the potential to substantially exceed “In-Place” rents
- Non Profit sponsorship affords potential for substantial “In-Kind” capital improvement donations
- Non Profit sponsorship may achieve Real Estate Tax exemption – case by case
What American Veteran Housing Services Does...
Studies have proven over the years that the concept of “Veterans helping Veterans” is critical to the success of the permanent supportive model. By working in conjunction with the our Not-For-Profit Veteran's Foundation, American Veteran Housing Services has teamed up with dedicated and knowledgeable Veterans from every generation. Sharing their knowledge and experience has aided in the rehabilitation of thousands of veterans and their families.
As the operating entity for the Foundation, American Veterans Housing Services, LLC, acts as a liaison between the various HUD/VA VASH Administrators, the local Public Housing Authorities, and the Owner/Operators of multifamily properties We are active in 12 states and control in excess of 4,000 units of multifamily housing either through direct ownership, joint venture or Support Services Agreement.
The intent of Americas Veterans Housing Services, LLC is to work in partnership with both the local VA office and the local Public Housing Authorities to supplement the supportive services provided by these organizations.
Veteran Service Officer
Upon reaching a certain threshold of Veteran tenant occupancy, Americas Veterans Housing Services, LLC, will provide an onsite dedicated Veteran Service Officer (VSO) in the area to support the VA case workers. We would also provide dedicated office space and meeting space at one of our area properties in order for the VA case worker to further create operational efficiencies.
Our Veteran’s Service Officer’s counseling areas of expertise include, but are not limited to:
- PTSD individual and group counseling meetings
- Job placement & career planning assistance
- Financial & credit counseling
- Assistance with VA Benefit opportunities
- Researching military records
- Preparing disability claims
- Assistance in applying for food stamps
- Continuing their education using Veterans benefits
- Resume’ writing
