1. Strategic Partnerships to End Veteran Homelessness
Metro Denver Forum of
Strategic Partnerships to End Veteran Homelessness
Gary – Welcome and Introduce Jeannie
Jeannie - Welcome

2. Welcome
Jeannie – introduce following persons to provide brief welcoming statements:
US Dept. of Veteran Affairs – Rich DeBlasio
US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development – Dan Gomez
Governor’s office – Karla Maracinni
Ask veterans in the audience to stand and thank you for your service!
Who else is here – ask for show of hands from:
Government
Non-profits
Veteran service organizations
Housing authorities

3. “Only a crisis- actual or perceived- produces real change.
Welcome
“Only a crisis- actual or perceived produces real change.
 When that crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around.
That, I believe, is our basic function: to develop alternatives to existing policies, to keep them alive and available until the politically impossible becomes the politically inevitable.”
- Milton Friedman
Jeannie review relevance of quote for forum

4. Objectives: Share vulnerability index survey results
Highlight recent housing successes
Hear from veterans about their experiences
Promote networking & information sharing
Identify regional priorities to effectively end veteran homelessness
Jeannie – review objectives for the day

5. Agenda Ending veteran homelessness by 2015? – Gary Sanford
Vulnerability Index Data overview – Katie Symons
Panel of Rapid Re-Housing partners – 100 Days Committee
Panel of veterans
Breakout session with focus groups in areas of Housing, Benefits, Supportive Services, Employment, Health Care, Outreach
Presentation of regional priorities – Group facilitators
Next steps & Closing remarks
Jeannie – walk through agenda

6. Ending Veteran Homelessness by 2015 in seven county area?
Gary sanford
Executive director
Metro denver homeless initiative
Jeannie – Introduce Gary Sanford

7. Goals National Efforts Vision Accomplished by
Increase number/variety of housing options including permanent, transitional, contracted, community-operated, and VA operated
Provide more supportive services through partnerships to prevent homelessness, improve employability, and increase independent living for veterans.
Improve access to VA and community based mental health, substance abuse, and supportive services.
Vision
“President Obama and I are personally committed to ending homelessness among Veterans within the next five years”
– Secretary Shinseki
Accomplished by
•Building Capacity
•Creating Solutions
Gary - Overview of Pathways Home Colorado

8. National Homeless Veteran Numbers
Gary present trends

9. Denver-Metro Homeless Veteran Numbers
Point In Time
The 2011 survey indicated that 11.7% of respondents (603) were homeless veterans
The 2012 survey indicated that 12.9% of respondents (710) were homeless veterans
Gary – discuss point in time numbers

10. GOAL END VETERAN HOMELESSNESS BY 2015
REGIONAL RESOURCES
VA Benefits
Grant per Diem programs
Veteran Service Organizations
Community Resource and Referral Center
VASH vouchers
Homeless Management Information System
Veteran Trust Fund
SOAR
VASH vouchers
Local initiatives
100 Days Committee
County Veteran Service Officers
Veteran Stand downs
Supportive Services for Veterans and Families grantees
Gary – Acknowledge the many regional / local resources for veterans experiencing issues related to homelessness
Colorado Board of Veteran Affairs
United Veterans Committee
Work Force Centers
Non-Profit agencies
Coordinated Entry
Ft. Lyon
VA Health Care

11. GOAL- END VETERAN HOMELESSNESS BY 2015
Opening Doors – Federal Goal
Pathways Home Colorado – State Goal
Regional priorities?
Voice of those in need
Insight from those engaged in addressing needs
Alignment to create efficiencies and collaboration
Leverage additional resources with collective voice
Gary – emphasize need to assess, align, actions

12. Vulnerability Index Overview
Katie Symons
Consultant
Governor’s office
Introduce Katie Symons – formerly with Denver’s Road Home and now consultant with Governor’s office. Has assisted in conducting vulnerability index in over 20 counties in Colorado

13. SEVEN COUNTY VULNERABILTY INDEX SURVEY OF VETERANS
Three hundred twenty seven (327) Veterans Surveyed
Results are based on the number of those surveyed and does not represent the entire homeless VETERAN population in the SEVEN COUNTY area.
The VI is focused on people, not only numbers.
Survey answers are self reported
Katie will review

14. Risk Factors for Vulnerability
More than 6 months homeless AND at least one of the following criteria:
-End Stage Renal Disease
-History of Cold Weather Injuries
-Liver Disease or Cirrhosis
-HIV+/AIDS
-Over 60 years old
-3 or more emergency room visits in prior 3 months
-3 or more ER or hospitalizations in prior year
-Tri-morbid (mental illness + abusing substances + chronic medical condition)
Having one of these conditions will give an individual a rating; the more conditions an individual has, the higher their rating (1-8)
Katie will review

15. Vulnerability Index Interview Questions
Veteran Status
Discharge, benefits, etc.
Demographics
Health Risk Indicators
Institutional Usage (prison, jail, shelter, foster care)
Employment, Income, and Education
Youth Risk Involvement
Family Risk Involvement
Katie will review

16. Medical Vulnerability
157 out of 327 Veterans are medically vulnerable
48% have at least one risk indicator
Vulnerability Score
# of Veterans
1 = 79
2 = 46
3 = 22
4 = 7
5 = 1
6 = 2
Katie will review
Both of the #6s are males. Here’s a little info about one of them:
He’s been homeless, sleeping on the streets mostly, for 10 years. He’s 69 years old. He has frostbite, liver disease, diabetes, a physical disability, a brain injury, and has been the victim of a violent attack since being homeless. Additionally, he says he has drank alcohol every day in the past month, and is an injection drug user, but has not received treatment for substance abuse. He has received mental health treatment. He’s been to the ER 3 times in the last 3 months and has been hospitalized 3 times in the last year; and has Medicaid. Finally, he served from in Vietnam and has an “Other than Honorable” discharge.

17. Vulnerability Index Risk Indicators
# of Veterans
Tri-Morbid 84
3x or more to ER in last 3 months 38
3X or more in hospital in last year 18
> 60 years 69
Liver Disease 36
Kidney Disease 14
History of Cold Weather Injury 24
HIV+/AIDS 2
Katie will review

18. Discharge Status
Katie will review

19. Age Youngest Veteran Oldest Veteran 25 years old 77 years old
Youth (25 & Under)
3 Vets
Seniors Age 55+
159 Vets
Seniors Age 65+
27 Vets
Katie will review

20. Gender
Katie will review

21. Benefits
Katie will review

22. Mental Health & Substance Abuse
163 Vets reported receiving some form of mental health treatment
47 reported being held against their will
190 Vets reported using substances
143 Vets reported receiving some form of substance abuse treatment
128 Vets are Dually Diagnosed
Katie will review

23. Risk Factors
Katie will review

24. System Involvement Katie will review
Jail 257(y) 61(no) 10(unknown), Prison , Foster Care

25. Where Interviews were Conducted
Katie will review
Project Homeless Connect 41, Denver Stand Down 117, Longmont Stand Down 28, St. Francis Center 10, Aurora 25, Boulder 18, Jeffco 13, Crossroads/HL 16, Castle Rock 2, Other 57

26. Resides in Which County
Katie will review
Adams 14, Arapahoe 33, Boulder 50, Broomfield 1, Denver 191, Douglas 2, Jefferson 16, Another Place 20

27. Lived Prior to Becoming Homeless (by County)
Katie will review

28. What We Are Doing
Many of these communities are taking the knowledge from the Data addressing gaps in services to meet the needs of the most vulnerable
Katie will review

29. 100 Days committee Panel presentation
Jeannie - Invite 100 Days Committee panel members to come up to table in front of room. Mention that this group truly represents collaboration across federal, state and local governments as well as non-profits to shorten housing process.
Once seated, invite panel members to introduce themselves and then they will self facilitate panel discussion
Once finished – ask if there are any questions for the panel and facilitate Q & A process

30. Panel of Rapid Re-Housing Partners
100 days Committee panel
Carolyn Juarez – Veterans Administration
Susan niner – Colorado Division of Housing
Loretta Owens – Denver housing authority
Heather powers – Veterans Administration
Kevin Raleigh – Co Coalition for the Homeless
Scott strong - Veterans Administration
Sage santangelo – Metro Denver Homeless Initiative
Panel will present

31. Local efforts
Goals
“Increase voucher utilization for HUD-VASH vouchers in the next 100 Days, with 100% voucher issuance and 95% of vouchers leased” -100 Days Group
Create housing and accessible services for homeless veterans
Increase retention
Vision
All Coloradans
have a place to
call home
Accomplished by
•Building Capacity
•Creating Solutions
Panel will present
Overview of Pathways Home Colorado

32. Denver Metro 100 Day team Team leaders:
Carolyn Juarez, HUD-VASH Supervisor Denver VAMC
Heather Powers, HUD-VASH Supervisor Denver VAMC
Team members:
Scott Strong- VAMC
Jennifer Daly- VAMC
Linda Barringer – Family Tree
Rebecca Mayer- Metro Denver Homeless Initiative
Brenda Mascarenas – Adams County Housing Authority
Toni Manjarrez- Denver Housing Authority
Loretta Owens- Denver Housing Authority
Katherine Helgerson- Division Of Housing
Amanda Guthrie – Boulder County Housing Authority
Sage Santangelo – Governors Office
Heather Beck- Colorado Coalition for the Homeless/DSOC
Kevin Raleigh- CCH/Denver Street Outreach Collaborative
Panel will present
Please list the names of your current Rapid Results Team Members and their organizations. Include members that came to the Boot Camp as well as new members that have been integrated into the team following the launch. Feel free to include a group picture of your team as well!

33. Goal vs Results
Goal at Launch: House 100 chronically homeless veterans in 100 days, 25 identified from the VI study
Baseline: In the 100 days previous to 10/8/12 the Denver Metro HUD-VASH program housed 66 Chronically Homeless Veterans
Day 100:
80 Chronically Homeless Veterans Housed
22 identified through the VI study
18 Additional VI veterans working with case managers, 17 of which have vouchers
Panel will present

34. Baseline vs Results 100- 85- 70- 55- 40- 25- 10- 0- DAYS 86.7 days
Panel will present
39 days
33.4 days
20.9
Referral to HUD-VASH Admission
Admission to HUD-VASH to Voucher Issue
Voucher Issuance
to Lease Up

35. Our Successes in the Denver Metro
Fifteen veterans were accepted into the VASH program at the 2012 Denver Stand Down
The “100 Veterans in 100 Days” group created to help speed up the VASH voucher issuance process has housed 84 veterans as of January 31st, 23 of whom were identified through the VI
A better relationship was forged between Housing authorities and the VA with continued partnership and goal setting
Panel will present

36. How We Improved Collaboration
“The collaboration has been amazing.”
“What a great example of what can be accomplished when we all come together!”
“The One Stop, in our opinion, was hugely successful.  9 veterans were seen this morning by the VA HUD-VASH team with Division Of Housing very kindly providing space and handling copying and application screening.  9 veterans attended the briefings with Division of Housing and Denver Housing Authority this afternoon and left with housing vouchers in hand.”
Panel will present
Kintsukuroi (n.) (v. phr.) – “to repair with gold”; the art of repairing pottery with gold or silver lacquer and understanding that the piece is more beautiful for having been broken.

37. Improving Client Experience
“I had no idea the stand down would lead to this… I met all these great people along the way who were so eager to help… This is the real deal, this is amazing!”
“I am amazed at how everything went. I am in an apartment and I am running a bible study class.”
“I am so excited to have a kitchen. You don’t understand, when you are living on the street, you never get a hot meal.”
“I love it- it’s beautiful. 3 bedrooms and fully furnished, its such a blessing”
Veteran who went through the process in 30 days
VI veteran who had been residing for
3 years under a loading dock
Panel will present

38. Areas for Improvement Continue work at landlord recruitment
Get ALL communities in the seven-county Denver Metro region involved
Establish deeper partnerships with services and organizations that are involved in retention of housing homeless veterans
Create VASH as “cool” process with good reputation amongst homeless veterans
Panel will present
Jeannie - Once panel presentation finished – ask if there are any questions for the panel and facilitate Q & A process
Jeannie – thank panel members for the efforts on behalf of our veterans – national attention focused on our efforts in the seven county area

39. PANEL OF VETERANS
Jeannie – invite veteran panel members up to table in front of room
Facilitate panel presentation and then Q & A
Once Q & A finished - Thank panel members for their service and courage to tell their story
Acknowledge that there are veterans in audience and their contributions are valued in small group discussions

40. Task: Identify regional priorities in each of the following areas
FOCUS GROUPS
Task: Identify regional priorities in each of the following areas
Housing
Benefits
Supportive services
Employment
Health care
outreach
Jeannie – Introduce Gary to explain small group exercise

41. Focus Group Process
Discuss priorities in topic areas that will contribute to ending veteran homelessness in seven county area by 2015
Brainstorm ideas and place on flip chart
Vote on top priorities
Rotate after 15 minutes to next group
Gary will facilitate

42. Focus Group Facilitators
Housing - Susan Niner (DOH) & Heather Powers (VA)
Benefits - John Valvano (VA) & Rebecca Sawyer Smith (VBA)
Supportive Services - Dee Drake (Rocky Mountain Human Services)
Employment - Nancy Rider (Bayaud Enterprises)
Health Care - Cheryl Martin (VA)
Outreach - Missy Mish (VA)
Gary will facilitate

43. Presentation of Priorities
Housing - Susan Niner & Heather Powers
Benefits - John Valvano & Rebecca Sawyer Smith
Supportive Services- Dee Drake
Employment - Nancy Rider
Health Care - Cheryl Martin
Outreach - Missy Mish
Jeannie will facilitate inviting table facilitators to present top priorities
Ask audience if there are questions or suggestions relative to each topic area priorities
(Gary or Rebecca will capture comments on flip chart paper)

44. Next Steps Identify interest in assisting with regional efforts
complete Evaluation –
Identify interest in assisting with regional efforts
develop document summarizing forum
Distribute to attendees
meet with other stakeholders in region
produce document which identifies regional priorities
Gary will review next steps

45. Jeannie Ritter Veterans Small Group Facilitators
Special thank you!
Jeannie Ritter Veterans Small Group Facilitators
Gary to wrap-up with thank you’s!