Discover how Swords to Plowshares in San Francisco successfully transitioned from transitional to permanent housing for veterans, with a focus on supportive services and program closures. Learn about their initiatives, achievements, and dedication to ending veteran homelessness.
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Presentation Transcript
3.08 Veteran Homelessness: Whats Next? 2019 National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference July 23, 2019 Washington D.C. TRAMECIA GARNER Associate Director for Housing & Residential Programs Swords to Plowshares San Francisco, CA
What We Do Permanent and Transitional Housing Legal Services for VA related benefits To include Justice Involved Veterans (C.O.V.E.R. project) Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) SOAR: SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access & Recovery Money Management Service Center Employment and Training Institute on Veteran Policy
How We Started Swords to Plowshares started operating transitional housing in the late 1980 s We began operating a Grant & Per Diem program in 1997 Over the years new providers entered into the GPD program providing services within the San Francisco area We had HUD McKinney funding in addition to our GPD funding We operated a Special Needs program, Frail & Elderly program and traditional GPD beds for a total of 56 beds
Transitioning Transitional Housing Summer 2015: Ended HUD funding for our transitional program Dec. 2015: Worked with GPD office and lowered our census from 56 beds to 35 to right size the program Nov. 2016: Began talking about the feasibility of keeping the GPD program due to continued low census and fiscal impact. Feb. 2017: Discussed with Board about closure of the GPD program. Board agreed with the closure. Mar. 2017: Alerted VA and STP staff of the decision to close the program May. 2017: Last veteran exited the program
Moving to Permanent Housing Oct. 2015: Applied for HUD McKinney funds as a new project and was awarded funding in 2016 Early 2016: Began renovating units to transition to permanent supportive housing (PSH) units Nov. 2016: First move-ins taking place in PSH units Dec. 2016: Final unit inspection for PSH units Remaining units were targeted to veterans with VASH
Process of Program Closure Ceased new referrals to the program in March of 2017 At the time we had 22 veterans in the program 16 Special Needs 2 Frail & Elderly 4 traditional GPD participants Alerted residents to the program closure with a final date of 9/30 Community meeting with VA staff from GPD to answer questions and hear concerns Meeting was held after we alerted staff and gave time for processing the closure and answer their questions. Worked with each veteran and VA to find other placement Gained approval from the City to prioritize veterans living in our GPD program for our permanent housing units (dependent upon eligibility)
Staffing We had 20 staff at the time of announcing the program closure We gave staff ample notice of the program closure and kept them abreast of any changes. Staff understood that as the census tapered we would begin laying off with the Program Monitor staff being last until we no longer had veterans in the program. Worked with staff to transfer them to other open positions within the agency. Offered a severance based on length of service to the agency which included a monetary payment and a certain number of months of COBRA benefits covered by the agency Staff were allowed time off to interview for other employment At the time of the program closure we had two staff retire and one who found other full-time employment. All other staff transitioned to other open positions within the agency.
Things to Consider Timing is key so that you allow enough time for staff to process the change and look for other work Consistent team meetings to check in with staff about their own concerns and its impacts on the community Working closely with your local VA and national VA on the transition from the start Created a spreadsheet to track progress towards placement of each veteran Spent time in community meetings discussing concerns from veterans and answering their questions as the process played out Considering the continuum of care within your community After our program closure there were still 86 GPD beds in San Francisco along with other residential treatment options
Things to Consider Continued Monies needed to rehabilitate units to transition them to permanent housing. Do you plan to use subsidies for those units? If so, work collaboratively with those entities to plan a timeline to implement that transition. Who are you serving: families, single adults, transitional aged youth Budgeting for furniture and other items needed to furnish your units if converting to PSH. Having the ability to have no revenue for units during the down time while making repairs, inspections, and lease up of new tenants. What staffing will be needed as you open your new permanent housing program
Thank You for Your Attendance Tramecia Garner, LPCC tgarner@stp-sf.org OUR MISSION War causes wounds and suffering that last beyond the battlefield. Swords to Plowshares mission is to heal the wounds, to restore dignity, hope, and self-sufficiency to all veterans in need, and to prevent and end homelessness and poverty among veterans. Swords to Plowshares 1060 Howard Street San Francisco, CA 94103 www.swords-to-plowshares.org
