Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> Administrative Plan 7/1/2025 Page 18-19 <br />PART II: VETERANS AFFAIRS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING (VASH) PROGRAM <br />18-II.A. PROGRAM OVERVIEW <br />Since 2008, HCV program funding has provided rental assistance under a supportive housing <br />program for homeless veterans. The Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program <br />combines HCV rental assistance with case management and clinical services provided by the <br />Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at VA medical centers (VAMCs) and Community-Based <br />Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), or through a designated service provider (DSP) as approved by the <br />VA Secretary. Eligible families are homeless veterans and their families that agree to participate <br />in VA case management and are referred to the VAMC’s partner PHA for HCV assistance. The <br />VAMC or DSP’s responsibilities include: <br /> Screening homeless veterans to determine whether they meet VASH program participation <br />criteria; <br /> Referring homeless veterans to the PHA; <br />- The term homeless veteran means a veteran who is homeless (as that term is defined in <br />subsection (a) or (b) of Section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act <br />(42 U.S.C. 11302)). See 38 U.S.C. 2002. <br /> Providing appropriate treatment and supportive services to potential VASH participants, if <br />needed, prior to PHA issuance of a voucher; <br /> Providing housing search assistance to VASH participants; <br /> Identifying the social service and medical needs of VASH participants, and providing or <br />ensuring the provision of regular ongoing case management, outpatient health services, <br />hospitalization, and other supportive services as needed throughout the veterans’ <br />participation period; and <br /> Maintaining records and providing information for evaluation purposes, as required by HUD <br />and the VA. <br />VASH vouchers are awarded noncompetitively based on geographic need and PHA <br />administrative performance. Eligible PHAs must be located within the jurisdiction of a VAMC <br />and in an area of high need based on data compiled by HUD and the VA. When Congress funds <br />a new allocation of VASH vouchers, HUD invites eligible PHAs to apply for a specified number <br />of vouchers. <br />Generally, the HUD-VASH program is administered in accordance with regular HCV program <br />requirements. However, HUD is authorized to waive or specify alternative requirements to allow <br />PHAs to effectively deliver and administer VASH assistance. Alternative requirements are <br />established in the HUD-VASH Operating Requirements, which were originally published in the <br />Federal Register on May 6, 2008, and updated September 27, 2021, and then again in 2024. <br />Unless expressly waived by HUD, all regulatory requirements and HUD directives regarding the <br />HCV program requirements are applicable to VASH vouchers, including the use of all HUD- <br />required contracts and other forms, and all civil rights and fair housing requirements. In addition, <br />the PHA may request additional statutory or regulatory waivers that it determines are necessary <br />for the effective delivery and administration of the program. <br />EXHIBIT 1