COVID-19 has presented both challenges and opportunities for communities across the country charged with serving people at-risk of or experiencing homelessness. In this session, you will learn from national leaders about the framework for a COVID response and how you can maximize the use of various funding streams and apply an equity lens to ensure your efforts remain focused on those who are most in need.  This session will also focus in on the role of congregate transitional housing in future efforts to end veteran homelessness. 

Speakers: Ann Oliva, Visiting Senior Fellow, CBPP; Jeff Quarles, Director, GPD National Program Office, VA 

Recent research shows that Veterans are twice as likely as non-Veterans to die by suicide. Housing instability is a major correlate of suicide risk, and unstably housed Veterans have more than double the rate of suicide compared with stably housed Veterans. This presentation will provide an overview on VA's National Strategy to Prevent Suicide and current research on Veteran suicide and homelessness. Learn about the current integration efforts and evidence-based practices. 

Speakers: Shawn Liu, Community Engagement Coordinator, VHA Homeless Programs Office; Ryan Holliday, Clinical Research Psychologist, Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Veteran Suicide Prevention

Black and Indigenous veterans are overrepresented among the population of veterans experiencing homelessness. This session will highlight a tool you can use to better understand how veterans of different races move through your community’s homeless system.  It will also feature a provider perspective on the imperative for utilizing an equity lens and some of the outcomes that have been identified. 

Speakers: Chan Crawford, Director of Individual Adult Homelessness, NAEH; Dawn Gilman, Chief Executive Officer, Changing Homelessness 

This workshop highlights the efforts of two communities to move the fight to end homelessness upstream through prevention and diversion. Discover how Maricopa County, AZ used flexible funding to support diversion and fill gaps in mainstream serves. Examine the diversion efforts in Cleveland and how that work was sustained during COVID. Leave with ideas for adapting these strategies to meet the needs in your community.  

Speakers: Jim Yates, Senior Consultant, Technical Assistance Collaborative (Moderator); Joanna Car, Research and Policy Coordinator and Shane Groen, Chief Programs Officer, The Arizona Housing Coalition; LaTonya Murray, Director of Emergency Housing Services, Frontline Services 

Women and LGBTQ Veterans face specific challenges in avoiding and experiencing homelessness. This session will explore the issue from three angles: policy, law, and research. You’ll learn about Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and the Equal Access Rule and their long-term impact on veterans. 

Speakers: Dylan Waguespack, Public Policy and External Affairs Director , True Colors; Ann Elizabeth Montgomery, Researcher, National Center for Homelessness Among Veterans; Bob Alexander, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity liaison to the Commission on Homelessness and Poverty, Swords to Plowshares 

Harm Reduction started as a grassroots movement over forty years ago and has become an evidence based public health approach practiced around the world. Come learn how two organizations, New Directions and the New England Center and Home for Veterans, have implemented harm reduction approaches in their veteran programming. The session will be grounded in a discussion of the research and evidence for harm reduction approaches. 

Speakers: Eric Elbogen, Researcher, National Center for Homelessness Among Veterans, Lena Asmar, VP Human Services, New England Center and Home for Veterans; Maurice Carter, GPD Manager, New Directions 

Half of the veteran currently experiencing homelessness are over the age of 50. These veterans present with frailties far beyond their actual age and complicated medical needs. The panelists in this session will share strategies for tailoring services for this population through emergency shelter, Stand Downs, and systems-building to accommodate future needs. 

Speakers: Amy Fairweather, Director of Policy (Moderator) and Michael Blecker Executive Director, Swords to Plowshares, Jon Nachison, Co-Founder Stand Down San Diego, Calista Nabors, VA Palo Alto Health Care System 

The impact of COIVD-19 on employment rates devastated many families. Although employment rates are rebounding, the long-term impact on veterans at-risk of experiencing homelessness is uncertain. This session features three different stakeholders: state workforce agencies, employers, and service providers who will share their perspectives on how to prepare for the future. 

Speakers: Lori Adams, Veterans Policy Director, NASWA;

Dee Albritton, Executive Director, Fast Forward;

Jen Rivera, HR Business Partner, REEF Global Parking 

Innovations in Permanent Housing  

As a result of the sudden impact and spread of COVID-19, many of the most vulnerable veterans experiencing homelessness were moved to temporary housing or separated from congregate living arrangements. In this workshop, panelists will share the new solutions communities are considering to move this vulnerable population to permanent housing. This session will also explore the use of technology, data, and information sharing, for finding permanent housing solutions. 

Speakers: Marlon Ferguson, NCHV Board Member (Moderator); 

Karl Calhoun, VOA Los Angeles,

Vanessa Davidson, Knox Financial 

Influencing Affordable Housing Development in Your Community  

Stakeholder participation presents an opportunity to work with planning, financial, and development entities, at both the local and state level. This workshop will explore partnerships that result in affordable housing development, and how to identify and create opportunities in your own community. Participants learn what the development process involves and how developers and veteran serving organizations can work with their states, counties, and cities, to influence the process. 

Speakers: Victoria Lee, NCHV Board Member (Moderator);

Nina Janopaul, CEO, Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing;

Vince Kane, Director, Wilmington VAMC, 

Bob Looby, American Legion 

 Leveraging Mainstream Benefits for Veteran Clients 

Many veterans, and the providers who work with them, concentrate on getting the benefits they’ve earned from the VA. While understandable, the emphasis on “veteran benefits” often prevents veterans from accessing mainstream benefits that could stabilize income and prevent homelessness. Come to this session to learn about the plethora of resources available through anti-poverty programs and how to connect your clients to them. SNAP, TANF and LIHEAP are a few of the programs that will be discussed. 

Speakers: Anthony Love, Senior Advisor and Director of Community Engagement, VA (Moderator); 

Alex Ashbrook, Director of Special Projects and Initiatives, FRAC;

Elizabeth Lower Basch, Director, Income and Work Supports, CLASP 

Connecting Veterans to Employment to Promote Long-Term Stability 

In this session you’ll hear from two employment service providers, one rural and one urban. The panelists will discuss how they structure their services to honor each veteran’s experience and interests while targeting industries with growth potential. Learn how the programs leverage various funding sources, including SSVF and HVRP, to provide employment services to veterans and their families. 

Speakers: Melissa Meierdierks, Deputy NHC VISN 21, VHA (Moderator); Connie Farmer, SSVF Program Director and Royal Todd, Employment Specialist, Volunteer Behavioral Health Care System; Lisa Dalhouse, Veteran Employment Manger, Services for the Underserved 

Improving Voucher Lease-Up Rates through Partnership  

Maximizing the use of housing vouchers requires communities to come together with a common goal. This workshop with examine how collaboration among veteran service organizations, landlords, and the local housing authorities can increase voucher usability. Attendees will learn from two communities about ways their organization and community can increase voucher placements, and policies they can advocate for to enhance their effectiveness.  

Speakers: Deirdre Bolden, Senior Program Manager, CSH (Moderator); Belinda Suttles, VASH Supervisor, North Texas Healthcare System, VAMC; Nathaniel Saltz Program Director and David Nguyen, Metro Housing Leader, MACV 

Long-term housing stability requires sustained income, often through a blend of employment and benefits. Come learn about the possibilities for combining work with Social Security and/or VA disability compensation and pensions to improve veteran outcomes. This session also includes an overview of all the VA benefits available for eligible veterans. 

Speakers: Jen Elder, Director, SAMHSA Homeless and Housing Resource Center, Policy Research, Inc.; Raymond Wall Program Analyst, VBA 

Using Public and Private Markets to Find and Secure Housing  

Most providers have established a rhythm for how they search and secure housing for veterans in the community, but can this process be more efficient and ultimately more successful? This session will explore best practices in housing search and navigation, both through traditional affordable housing programs and in the private market. The panel will also cover how to simplify the application process and build on existing landlord networks. 

Speakers: Trevor Thundershield, Owner Support Supervisor, HOM Inc