Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)

Supportive Services for Veteran Families is a homeless prevention program designed to help veterans and their families maintain their current housing, or helping find them new and affordable housing. ABCCM's goal is to improve housing stability for low-income veteran families through the SSVF Program, and is a 28-county regional effort to bring an end to homelessness among veterans.  

SSVF specialists support veterans by providing case management, assistance in obtaining VA benefits, and coordination of community resources. Services may include:

  • Case management services

    • The Case Manager conducts face-to-face interviews to determine program eligibility and will complete an assessment of needs at the time of admission. The Case Manager collaborates with community providers, when authorized by the Veteran, to ensure that the Veteran’s service needs are met and duplication of services is minimized. The Case Manager will work directly with the Veteran on an Individualized Success Plan.

  • Housing search assistance

    • The SSVF program uses the following benchmarks to establish that a rental property is adequate for the Veteran household:

    • The rental property must meet the Habitability Standards identified in the HPRP Housing Habitability Standards Inspection Checklist. 

    • The rental property must meet but not exceed the number of bedrooms the household requires. For example, a single Veteran would require one bedroom or an efficiency unit; a Veteran and spouse would also require a one bedroom; a Veteran and spouse with one child would require two bedrooms. 

  • Temporary financial assistance

    • Rental Assistance- Rental assistance includes the payment of rent, penalties, fees, and/or court costs to help clients remain in or obtain permanent housing. 

    • Utility Payments- Utility payment assistance includes the payment of utility costs:

      • Heat

      • Electricity

      • Water

      • Sewer

      • Trash Collection

    • Rental Security/ Utility Deposit Payments- No more than twice the monthly rent considered as a deposit. A signed lease detailing the rental deposit must be on file. Utility deposits may not exceed twice the monthly maximum. 

  • Inpatient Treatment for Substance Abuse/Mental Health

    • For Veterans enrolled in the SSVF program who are seeking inpatient treatment for substance abuse and/or mental health, payment of rent and utilities may be provided while the Veteran is in treatment. This is considered on a case-by-case basis and is contingent upon funding availability. 

This program covers 28 Western North Carolina counties: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, McDowell, Macon, Madison, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey.

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Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP)

The HVRP program serves homeless veterans who need assistance in order to enter, re-enter, remain, or advance in the workforce. Through short-term training programs, focusing on industry recognized certifications and licenses, HVRP is committed to ensuring Veterans receive the training and support needed to secure career level jobs that pay living wages. As the goal of the HVRP program is to place homeless Veterans into meaningful employment, at VSC we recognize that the duration of services required may be several months or even a year or more. Services may include:

  • Case management services

    • The Case Manager will conduct a face-to-face interview to determine program eligibility and will assist the Veteran in completing a career assessment at the time of admission. The Case Manager collaborates with community providers, when authorized by the Veteran, to ensure that the Veteran’s service needs are met and duplication of services is minimized. The Case Manager coordinates with the NCWorks Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist to enroll Veteran in the Wagner-Peyser program. 

  • Vocational counseling

    • Most Veterans are unsure as to what occupation would best suit them after their military service.  HVRP Case Managers are trained to assist Veterans with finding that answer: Aptitude tests; education requirements/courses already achieved; narratives aligned with the Veteran’s goals and best interests in mind; previous employment or volunteer work that may have been enjoyable – pinpointing the positive. 

    • An Individualized Success Plan (ISP) is developed to track progress and goal setting between the Veteran and the Case Manager.

  • Job-driven training

    • One thing that may impede a Veteran’s progress in obtaining gainful employment is the lack of required education and/or certification.  As a Veteran enrolled in HVRP, specific job-related training and/or certifications may be paid for by the HVRP program. These trainings are discussed with the HVRP Case Manager and must be approved prior to registering.  In addition to classes, books and lab equipment may be purchased by the HVRP program as well.

  • Job search assistance

    • As a Veteran enrolled in HVRP, you will find solace in knowing that your Case Manager is there to assist you with searching for gainful employment, setting you up with a resume writing workshop, or putting you in contact with an agency in your community that can assist further with your employment searching needs.

  • Assistance with tools, clothing, fees and transportation

    • Another great tool offered to HVRP Veterans is the availability to purchase tools, clothing, certain fees, and transportation as it relates to employment.  

NCServes Service Coordination

Veterans Services of the Carolinas is the local coordination center for NCServes, the region’s first coordinated network of public, private, and nonprofit organizations working together to serve Veterans, service members, and their families. Our coordination center uses the Unite Us platform to guide our clients to the most appropriate services and resources available in their county.

NCServes partners with providers in the areas of:

  • Clothing

  • Housing

  • Household Goods

  • Employment

  • Education

  • Legal

  • Financial Assistance 

  • Social Enrichment and Recreation

  • VA Benefits 

  • Health Care (physical and mental health) 

  • Family Support

  • Food Security

  • Transportation

  • Money Management

  • Utilities Payment Assistance, and more.

Active duty, National Guard, Reserve Service members, as well as Veterans and their families who reside in North Carolina are eligible for support from the network. We aim to support all individuals who have worn the uniforms of our military – regardless of age, era, branch or discharge status. Not all services are available to every member however, our Care Coordinators will strive to find an appropriate local resource. 

Our network continues to work collectively to improve the coordination and direct service delivery to our military and Veteran families. By adopting the technology and aggregating our community-­wide data, we are able to more accurately identify and measure:

  • Who is requesting services?

  • What services they are requesting?

  • Availability of those services?

  • Time it takes to meet the need?

  • Most importantly, the individual outcomes as a result of those services delivered?

Healing Outreach Partnerships for Empowerment (hope)

Healing Outreach Partnerships for Empowerment (HOPE) is a program designed to provide intensive outreach to individuals with severe mental illness who are living outside and are deemed most vulnerable.  The HOPE program serves individuals who have been historically perceived as unreachable. Veterans will be located through extensive outreach efforts extended by the HOPE team. Case Management and peer support services will be offered to Veterans who meet criteria and are enrolled in the HOPE program.  HOPE staff will assist eligible Veterans by referring them to mental health treatment and resources, primary health and dental care, as well as income assistance, employment, and housing. In appropriate situations HOPE is able to provide direct service funds to assist with rent and utilities deposits.   

Veterans who have served one day in active duty military and who are literally homeless living in outside locations such as streets, camps, wooded areas, and abandoned buildings or under bridges may be eligible for our services. HOPE’s primary focus is street outreach to Veterans who are struggling with Mental Illness and are not currently accessing community resources. 

 Services may include:

  • Outreach Services:

    • Outreach services will be conducted where Veterans will be found (i.e. streets, camps, parks, shelters). HOPE Outreach includes observing individuals who appear to be experiencing homelessness and whose behavior, dress, speech, or affect appears to indicate possible severe mental illness. Outreach is face-to-face with the Veterans.

  • Case management services:

    • The Case Manager conducts face-to-face interviews to determine program eligibility and will complete an assessment of needs at the time of admission. The Case Manager collaborates with community providers, when authorized by the Veteran, to ensure that their service needs are met and duplication of services is minimized. The Case Manager will work directly with the Veteran on an Individualized Success Plan.

  • Peer Support Services:

    • Our Peer Support Specialists are Veterans who have previously experienced homelessness or are living in recovery from mental illness and substance use. They are North Carolina Certified Peer Support. They employ the same services as the case manager, in addition to engaging with the Veterans in a peer relationship. 

Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH)

Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) is a program that mirrors HOPE in the civilian sector and seeks to reach both civilians and Veterans. 

 Services may include:

  • Outreach Services:

    • Outreach services will be conducted where homeless individuals will be found (i.e. streets, camps, parks, shelters). PATH outreach includes observing individuals who appear to be experiencing homelessness and whose behavior, dress, speech, or affect appears to indicate possible severe mental illness.

  • Case Management Services:

    • The Case Manager conducts face-to-face interviews to determine program eligibility and will complete an assessment of needs at the time of admission. The Case Manager collaborates with community providers, when authorized by the individual, to ensure that their service needs are met and duplication of services is minimized. The Case Manager will work directly with the client on an Individualized Success Plan.

  • Peer Support Services:

    • Our Peer Support Specialists often have previously experienced homelessness or are living in recovery from mental illness and substance use. They are North Carolina Certified Peer Support and they employ the same services as the case manager, in addition to engaging with the individuals in a peer relationship.