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Being the Catalyst: Successful Veteran Advocacy as a Housing Authority Commissioner

Steve Smith

Thank the NCHV for the invitation. May is one of the most important months on the calendar for veterans. It’s Military Appreciation Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, and holds two important days dedicated to our service members: Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day.
About 7% of the total U.S. population. How many are in this room right now? How many Army, etc. But that population is very different. Shipmates? “I was a black shoe who had A-gang that was all snipes.”
There may be inter-service, but we do have a common set of terms and expressions that we all understand. “Muster in the lobby at 1600
All have different missions. But are they integrated or affiliated. If affiliated, what makes them work together? Command and control. Comms, etc.
I guess using the snazzy title worked. Actually, you‘ll notice that the title isn’t punctuated. The title can be punctuated with both a period and a question mark because I’m not sure it can be achieved. I also don’t know what “success looks like”

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Question 1: ��What is the largest integrated health care system in the United States?

Answer: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is America’s largest integrated health care system.

146 VA Medical Centers (VAMC) with integrated outpatient clinics, 772 Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC), and 134 VA Community Living Centers (VA Nursing Home) Programs. 350,000 employees.

All VA hospitals, clinics and medical centers are owned by and operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (as opposed to private companies), and all the staff employed in VA hospitals are federal employees .

�Question 2: ��What is the largest “integrated” homeless services network in the United States? �

Answer: The Department of Veterans Affairs largest integrated network of homeless assistance programs in the United States

Housing and Urban Development–VA Supportive Housing (HUD- VASH) This collaborative program between HUD and VA provides homeless Veterans with a HUD Housing Choice rental voucher and VA case management and supportive services

Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF). SSVF is designed to rapidly rehouse homeless Veteran families. Funds are granted to private nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives.

Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) The GPD Program is VA’s largest transitional housing program for Veterans experiencing homelessness. GPD awards grants to community-based organizations to provide transitional housing with wraparound supportive services

�Question 3:��What role can be the catalyst for closer coordination between VA program grantees?��

Public Housing Authority commissioners who are veterans are best positioned to drive closer affiliation between VA-funded programs by:

Creating informal communications channels between the VA, “affiliates” and advocates.
Serving on the boards of affiliate organizations
Engaging veteran service organizations: American Legion, AmVets, VFW in the homelessness issue
Reaching out directly to veteran property owners and managers to advocate for increased capacity. (VAREP, et al)

�Q & A��

Steve Smith

407.717.1540