Veterans Homelessness Prevention Demonstration Project (VHPD)

The VHPD project is a pilot (demonstration) collaborative initiative by the U.S. Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Veterans Affairs (VA), and Labor (DOL) to explore innovative early interventions to help prevent veteran homelessness. While veterans from all wars are eligible, priority is given to veterans returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (OEF/OIF) and National Guard/Reservists.

Assistance is focused on maintaining or accessing stable housing, health care and employment services either directly or through referral to community resources, including:

Financial Assistance such as

•Security and utility deposits
•Rental assistance/arrearages
•Utility payment/arrearages
•Moving costs
•Security and utility deposit for veterans accepted into the HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH)

Supportive Services such as

•Case management
•Transportation
•Child care
•Credit repair

Access to VA Health Care and Benefits

•Evaluation of eligibility
•Clinical assessment
•Access to treatment

Education & Employment Opportunities

•Transitional assistance
•Job training and job placement
•Supported employment

Fort Drum was selected as one of five communities in the country for this program. TLS will provide services in the tri-county area of Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence, while the Central New York Veteran’s Outreach Center of Utica will cover the counties of Herkimer, Oneida and Madison.

The other four communities are Camp Pendleton, San Diego, CA; MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, FL; Fort Hood, Killeen, TX; and Joint Base Lewis–McChord, Tacoma, WA.

For information, contact Tracy L. Robertson, Veterans Outreach Case Manager, at 315-778-3081 (cell).