Providing a positive patient experience in a healing environment Veteran Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan for Greater LA Veteran Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan for Greater LA

2 This plan operationalizes Paragraph 2 of the “Principles Agreement” that VA Secretary McDonald, and Ronald L. Olson, Esq. (Plaintiffs’ representative) signed on 1/28/2015, to settle the Valentini v. McDonald litigation. Both parties in part agreed to “... develop a written veteran homelessness strategy and action plan for Greater LA no later than 2/13/15.” The Plan is intended to be a living, working document continuing to draw on the expertise, experience, and knowledge of community partners working toward the same ends. Veteran Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan for Greater LA

3 This initiative is of the highest priority. As Secretary Robert A. McDonald said ⁻“Our commitment to serving Veterans must be unquestioned. Veterans must know that we are ‘all in’ when it comes to accomplishing our mission and living by our values. Together, VA and the community must be ‘all in’ and using all available resources to engage and connect our Veterans to housing healthcare, jobs and other supports to end their homelessness and support their recovery”.

4 Today, we know what works and how effective communities end homelessness among Veterans. Housing First and Rapid Rehousing, must become a common practice. Neither VA nor the community can end homelessness in isolation. We know that partnership is essential. We must partner at all levels with stakeholders, veterans and especially with local providers to target services effectively and to put Veterans First. Veteran Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan for Greater LA

5 Key objectives of this Plan are to: 1. Transform the GLA Campus into a vibrant community where all Veterans and especially homeless veterans can live, receive healthcare, benefits, employment, and other supportive services which they earned and deserve. 2. Enhance and strengthen outreach, and housing and service components for Veterans who are homeless and at risk for homelessness; 3.Improve targeting of services for chronically homeless Veterans - i.e., those with significant mental health or other disabilities and who have been continuously homeless for at least a year or have experienced four or more episodes in the prior 3 years; and 4.Connect Veterans, and especially chronically homeless Veterans, to permanent housing and other supports needed, to help sustain that housing.

6 Veteran Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan for Greater LA VA and community must work together to know the homeless and at risk for homeless veterans by name, to understand their strengths and needs and then provide the right level of housing and services support for the right duration, to achieve the best housing and healthcare outcomes for the Veteran and community. It is imperative that VA and community work together to target and execute resources in the most efficient manner possible. This is why coordinated assessment and outreach are critical.

7 Veteran Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan for Greater LA Both VA and our community partners must adopt key strategic operating objectives that demand: – Empowering Veterans to improve their well-being; – Enhancing and developing trusted partnerships that leverage resources and mitigate barriers to housing and healthcare services; and – Managing and improving VA and community operations to deliver seamless and integrated support to homeless and at risk for homeless Veterans.

8 Veteran Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan for Greater LA Improving performance (defined by the use of): Improved veteran experience by having timely connections to housing healthcare and other supports. Evidence-based interventions. Delivery of services that address both homelessness and homeless prevention. Data driven, outcome focus. Effective, efficient, timely deployment of resources Rapid identification of gaps requiring more or different resources, either from within VA or from community partners. Foster a collaborative culture of continuous improvement that puts the Veteran First.

Veteran Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan for Greater LA More effective collaboration with community partners Coordination with Home for Good, Continuum of Care, The Veteran Collaborative, the Continuum of Care and other advocacy groups. Improved coordination for the Grant & Per Diem (GPD), SSVF, and HUD-VASH programs. Participation in a Coordinated Entry System. Development of a share practice model with community HUD-VASH case management, Grant and Per Diem and SSVF. Working with Public Housing Authorities and regional HUD to improve timeliness of voucher utilization. Working with Homeless Veteran Foundation. Coordination with VBA for enhanced access to claims and benefits. Coordination with Department of Labor regarding employment opportunities.

10 Veteran Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan for Greater LA Promoting a positive culture of service Veteran First A culture that is welcoming and trauma informed; services that are Veteran-centered and use Veteran choice as a central guiding principle. Commitment to partnership, with VA working in the community, with the community.

11 Veteran Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan for Greater LA Improve Performance & Advancing health care innovation for Veterans Provide integrated and collaborative partnerships and teams that meet Veterans’ needs, both inside and outside of the GLA medical centers. Increase operational effectiveness and accountability. Be data and outcome driven in a way that is verifiable and transparent with the community. Rapidly identify gaps that require more or different resources, either from VA or community partners. Establish and track Veteran satisfaction metrics. Exemplify a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Ensure the quality of service and regularly evaluate whether this Plan is meeting quantitative targets.

12 Veteran Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan for Greater LA VA will commence the following actions within the first 100 days: 1.Expedite the hiring of VA outreach and Supportive Housing (VASH) teams. 2.Explore ways for VA to optimally utilize its authorities in Title 38 of the United States Code, to lawfully receive gifts and donations from third parties. 3.Work with the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) and Congress to identify potential legislative proposals, to improve VA’s ability to help end Veteran homelessness, including to provide permanent supportive housing on the campus. 4.Increase Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) funding in FY SSVF is VA’s shared practice model that provides financial assistance and services to prevent Veterans and families from becoming homeless.

13 Veteran Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan for Greater LA 5. Procure contracts to promote integrated outreach /navigators and better care coordination for Veterans. 6.Procure a consultation contract with national expert on training related to Housing First and trauma informed care. 7.Amend and enhance HUD-VASH vouchers and case management supports to community providers in the GLA area, to increase timely placement of Veterans experiencing chronic homelessness while VA teams are recruited. 8.Contract for a qualified housing specialist organization or firm, to work with VA teams and Los Angeles’ Coordinated Entry System -- to assist with identifying and tracking available housing units, and coordinate with VA, to ensure timely placement of Veterans into appropriate units.

14 Veteran Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan for Greater LA 9. Take the steps necessary to make bridge housing available both on GLA’s campus and in the community for Veterans, to facilitate the rapid movement of homeless individuals and/or families off of the street. 10. Take the steps necessary to make information resources like the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) available to VA providers. 11. Conduct monthly Town Hall Meeting that will include Federal, State, and local community partners and stakeholders. The purpose will be to provide information, and receive feedback regarding progress to date, related to VA’s effort to help end Veteran homelessness in GLA; provide updates on the implementation of this strategic plan; foster the team approach of working to end Veteran homelessness in GLA. 12. Create and make available a Performance Dashboard to report progress on the goal.

15 Veteran Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan for Greater LA Actions beyond the first 100 days to Improve efficiency and sustainment 1.Determine need for additional HUD-VASH vouchers and SSVF resources sufficient to meet the goals of this Plan; coordinate with HUD for additional HUD-VASH vouchers. VA will also evaluate the need for additional SSVF resources, and make allocate available resources as needed. 2.Utilize available VA programs and authorities to help enable third parties to respond to and seek funds relating to State of California Proposition 41 Notices of Funding Availability, for providing permanent housing solutions in Los Angeles, including but not limited to permanent supportive housing for Veterans on the West Los Angeles medical center campus. 3.Coordinate with the Los Angeles Mayor’s office to increase access to Affordable Housing. The focus must continue on finding and creating affordable housing and improving the speed and number of lease-ups and increasing retention in particular this year.

16 Veteran Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan for Greater LA 4. Work through VA’s Veterans Benefits Administration, the U.S. Department of Labor, charitable organizations, and philanthropists, to help enhance employment and access to Federal, State, and local services for Veterans that are homeless or at risk for homelessness. 5. Activate Building 209: 62 beds Long Term Housing and Services Program. 6. Take the steps necessary to see that underutilized beds at the California State Veterans Home are actually available and used by Veterans. 7. Coordinate with Continuum of care to conduct a full PIT count in January 2016.

17 Veteran Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan for Greater LA 8. Competitively hire a reputable urban planning firm, to assist VA with developing a new Master Plan for the West Los Angeles campus. The new Master Plan will reflect VA’s intent to use the campus in a Veteran centric manner going forward. This will include VA providing bridge housing and permanent supportive housing on the campus, targeting severely disabled, women, and aging Veterans. Note: As part of the settlement reached on January 28, 2015 in the Valentini v. Shinseki litigation, the Plaintiffs’ representatives in that case have decided to establish a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. The corporation will work in coordination with VA and pertinent Federal, State, and local authorities; legislators; Veteran Service Organizations; Faith Based organizations; community partners including women Veterans groups; charitable organizations – to help end Veteran homelessness in Greater LA Legally speaking, the State Veteran home is not on USA land. VA conveyed the property to the State of California, e.g., per 38 USC 8122 (a)(3).

18 Veteran Homelessness Strategy and Action Plan for Greater LA Questions and Feedback For additional information – contact VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Office of Communications at