Addressing Veterans Homelessness in Alameda County: ACVAC Initiatives and Programs
Alameda County Veterans Affairs Commission (ACVAC) is actively involved in providing advice and assistance to veterans and their families regarding basic needs, with a focus on housing and mental health services. This report highlights the key areas of concern for veterans in Alameda County, including the high number of homeless/unsheltered veterans. The report discusses various programs and initiatives aimed at supporting homeless veterans and their dependants, such as Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Voucher programs, transitional stabilization units, rapid rehousing, and more. The efforts of ACVAC and other organizations in the Bay Area are crucial in addressing the issue of veterans' homelessness.
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Alameda County Veterans Affairs Commission (ACVAC) Diane Williamson, Vice-Chair Annual report to Board of Supervisors Social Services Committee July 25, 2022
ACVAC ACVAC Providing advice and assistance related to veterans and their families pertaining to their basic needs For 2022 the Alameda County Veterans Affairs Commission (ACVAC) have identified continued priority areas for veterans in Alameda County: Housing Mental Health Services Outreach Additionally, the ACVAC will continue to focus its efforts on events for veterans across the county in 2022.
Alameda County leads the Bay Area in number of homeless/unsheltered veterans according to the 2021 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) count. Housing for Housing for Veterans and Veterans and their their Dependents Dependents
2021 PIT Veteran County By CoC H Homeless Veterans in the omeless Veterans in the Bay Area Bay Area source HUD 2021 PIT Veterans Count 800 700 Oakland, Berkeley Alameda Co. 934 Homeless 600 500 809 Unsheltered 400 300 200 100 0 San Jose / Santa Clara Co. San Francisco CoC Oakland, Berkeley / Alameda Co. Richmond / Contra Costa Co. Homeless (Total) Unsheltered
Bay Area Programs to address veterans homelessness in Alameda County The ACVAC has identified the following 16 programs that are designed to assist veterans and their dependents who are struggling with homelessness and Housing insecurity. Resources for Community Development Lifelong Medical San Francisco dept of Health SFHN Transition Stabilization Units Berkeley food and Housing Project Hamilton Family Center HUD Rapid Rehousing Shelter Inc. Sword to Plowshares SF Edwin M. Lee / Veterans Academy Mental Health Association (SAYAT) SF Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corp - VASH Life moves Motel Voucher Program SF Brilliant Corners Flexible housing Subsidies Bay Area Rescue Mission East Bay Asian Local Development Corp Swords to Plowshares Oakland Housing Authority HUD VASH Hamilton Family Center Hamilton HUD Rapid Rehousing County Housing Authority HUD VASH Source - HUD HIC Raw Data 2021
Veterans Housing in Alameda County - 2021 HUD Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Voucher Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Voucher participation by local Public Housing Authorities. 2021 HUD The Livermore Housing Authority The Alameda County Housing Authority The City of Oakland Housing Authority Source: Department of Housing and Urban Development.
What are the common barriers to Alameda County veterans seeking mental health care? A lack of awareness about how to connect to the Veterans Administration (VA) for mental health care leads to veterans not seeking help. There needs to be more focus on aligning resources to veteran needs, i.e. housing and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment. Veterans Mental Veterans Mental Health Services Health Services Fears that discrimination could effect employment, firearm ownership, etc.. Lack of outreach and engagement by the VA on program availability. Source: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.
There are currently 4 open voting seats on the ACVAC from the following organizations or offices: 1-Veterans of Foreign Warn (VFW) 1-Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) 1-Marine Corps League (MCL) 1-Women Vets The ACVAC commissioners and staff will be utilizing a robust awareness campaign to recruit additional volunteers with the expectation to fill all remaining seats by years end 2022. ACVAC Outreach ACVAC Outreach Vacancies Vacancies
2022 2022 The ACVAC plans to promote, develop, & identify the needs of the veterans and their families by participating in and observing the following holidays in 2021: Observance Observance and Participation Participation in veteran events Veterans Day - Friday November 11th2022 This includes a presence at the USS Hornet to maintain an information table.
County Veterans Service Office (CVSO) Activities 2021 Auditable claims represent claims that have a reasonable chance of obtaining a monetary or medical (United States Department of Veterans Affair, Department of Defense and state) benefit for a veteran, their dependents and/or survivors. Due staffing levels, the CVSO adjusted operations. As COVID-19 continued, the CVSO found additional ways to assist the public by way of amended face-to-face meetings as well as telephonic and technology assisted processes. Examples or auditable claims are Compensation, Pension, Accrued benefits, Education benefits. Examples of non auditable claims are Drivers License Verifications and Intent to File claim.
CVSO activity 5/2021 05/2022 05/2020 to 05/2021 CVSO total auditable claims 991 CVSO total auditable claims 706 CVSO total claims: 2,120 CVSO total claims: 1,980 **The Alameda County CVSO managed to process claims both in person and virtually using enhanced technology through VA platforms**
Department of Veterans Service (DVS) 40 CalVet College Fee Waivers The Calvet College Fee Waiver waives mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at any State of California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus. During the period covering 5/2021 present the Alameda CVSO issued 253 fee waiver award letters representing $1,763,478.00 awarded by the state of California to our veteran s dependents. **The Alameda CVSO has made every effort during COVID 19 to prioritize auditable activities such as the fee waiver to ensure program continuity.
Additional areas of need identified: Justice Involved Veterans Involved Veterans Justice Alameda County Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) Veterans can resolve criminal cases through treatment and support. In these courts, veterans take part in a program tailored to address their needs. As part of the program, participants meet frequently with a judicial officer, other veterans, treatment providers, mentors, and support teams. Support the Superior Court of Alameda county VTC program by assisting with identifying potential mentors. The CVSO can promote the program via GovDelivery bulletins however approval is needed to assist mentors with obtaining their Live Scan background checks.
