Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program
Grant: Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program
Agency: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Division: Office of Mental Health
Deadline: The deadline was February 1, 2013; 4:00 p.m. Eastern.
Description: The Supportive Services for Veterans Families Program (SSVF) is designed to support private nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives as they coordinate and/or provide supportive services to very low-income veteran families in or transitioning to permanent housing.
The SSVF program is not designed to provide long-term support for participants, nor will it be able to address all of the financial and supportive services needs of participants that affect housing stability. Rather, the aim of the program is to assist very low-income veteran families residing in permanent housing to remain stably housed and to rapidly transition to housing. The target population for this program includes:
- Veteran families earning less than 30 percent of area median income.
- Veterans with at least one dependent family member.
- Veterans returning from Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn.
- Veteran families located in a rural area.
- Veteran families located on Indian Tribal property.
For the purpose of the SSVF program, supportive services include:
- Outreach services.
- Case management services.
- Assisting participants in obtaining VA benefits.
- Assisting participants in obtaining and coordinating other public benefits.
Funding is available for both initial and renewal supportive services grants.
Past grantees have been known to provide tutoring services, GED preparation, professional development trainings and employment services. A full list of previous awards made can be found on the VA official SSVF program website.
Fit for Public Broadcasting: Public broadcasters are eligible to apply directly to this program; however, partnerships are encouraged as stations partnering with other community based organizations would be able to provide a greater variety of supportive services to veterans and their families. Stations involved in GED preparation, professional development and employment services will find a natural fit in this program. A full list of the 2011 grantees and project abstracts is located, here.
Eligibility: Private nonprofit organizations or consumer cooperatives are eligible to apply.
Anticipated Funding: Approximately $300 million may be awarded depending on funding availability for initial and renewal supportive services grants for a one to three year period. Of this, an estimated $140 million will be set aside specifically for renewal grants. Each grant awarded cannot exceed $2 million per year, and the total number of supportive services grants awarded to a grantee cannot exceed five grants nationwide per year.
How to Apply: Applicants must submit, by mail or hand delivery, two completed hard copies of their application, including two compact discs containing electronic versions of the entire application to the following address:
Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program Office
National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans
4100 Chester Avenue, Suite 201
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Any questions can be referred to the SSVF Program Office via phone at (877) 737-0111, or via email at SSVF@va.gov.
Resources:
FY 2012 program notice
Program website
Past Grantees
