Volunteers of America Texas to Administer the Three-Year Program
Dallas, Texas – U.S. Military veterans and their families who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless have a new resource dedicated to finding permanent housing. The new Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program (SSVF) is funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and will be operated by Volunteers of America Texas, the local affiliate of a nationwide nonprofit that already operates several veterans’ assistance programs and is also a leader in fighting homeless in Texas for veterans and civilians alike.
VOA Texas has already received the first year’s $1.2 million grant funds from the federal agency with aa commitment for two more years. The program is available to provide services to veterans in Tarrant, Parker, Dallas and Collin counties. Some 150 veterans will be served annually or a total of 450 over the course of the current grant’s lifetime.
“SSVF represents a new, holistic approach that targets not just veterans themselves, but also seeks to assist veteran families in a multi-pronged approach to bring them to a place of stability,” explained Angela King, VOA Texas President, and Chief Executive Officer. “It is a housing first program, but we won’t let any other barrier in a veteran’s life keep them from getting that housing.”
King cited a couple of examples of the broad range of services VOA Texas can now provide: They are assisting a veteran family with moving expenses so they can come to the Dallas area to live with family in a stable environment. In another case, a veteran is being provided short-term emergency housing via a hotel while other services are put into play to form a more permanent solution.
“This program funding is a complementary expansion of our current Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program,” King said. “That program connected homeless veterans to jobs and job training opportunities. But we found the biggest challenge was the veterans not having the means to get into housing themselves. We are working to bring solutions to the problem.”
The new program will help alleviate that issue by providing not just housing, but also conducting outreach to veterans, case management, short-term emergency housing, rental/utility assistance, assistance in obtaining VA benefits and connecting veterans to affordable housing which provides long-term stability.
Those eligible include:
- A member of a ‘veteran family,” either a veteran personally or a member of a family in which the head of household or the spouse of the head of household is a veteran.
- A very low-income household in which income does not exceed 80 percent of area median income.
- Those experiencing current homelessness or at risk of homelessness within the next 31 days.
Those interested in applying or seeking more information about the program may contact the SSVF intake service at ssvfdfw@voatx.org; or by calling 682-209-9884.
About Volunteers of America Texas
Volunteers of America Texas is a faith-based organization that empowers individuals and families to overcome obstacles to reach their full potential and thrive. The ministry of service strengthens communities through an array of services including substance abuse treatment and prevention, affordable housing, community re-entry, employment training and disabilities services. With locations in more than 30 urban and rural communities, Volunteers of America Texas has been helping those who need the most help for more than 127 years. For information, visit www.voatx.org.
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