Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)

Goal

Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) goal is to promote housing stability among very low-income Veteran families who reside in or are transitioning to permanent housing from Jackson, MS south to the coast.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Supportive Services, a person must:

  1. Have served in the active military, naval, or air service and have a discharge status that is not dishonorable.
  2. Be homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.
  3. Household income does not exceed 50% of the area median income (AMI) for the household size and county, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; This information can be found at http://huduser.org/portal/datasets/il.html or just click here.


Services Provided

  • Temporary financial assistance
  • Case management
  • Assistance in obtaining VA benefits
  • Assistance in obtaining public benefits
  • Outreach

Referrals are submitted by Veterans Affairs, self-referrals, walk-ins and other local agencies that provide services to Veterans.
We serve Veteran families from Jackson, MS south to the coast.

Temporary Financial Assistance

Eligible participants may receive temporary financial assistance in the following ways:

  • Rental assistance
  • Utility payment assistance
  • Deposit payment assistance (security and utility deposits)
  • Moving costs
  • Emergency supplies
  • Transportation assistance

Case Management
Each eligible participant will be assigned a Veterans Resource Specialist to ensure that participants receive the assistance needed to promote housing stability.
Veterans Resource Specialists will:

  • Consult with participants to conduct needs assessments and create individualized housing stability plans.
  • Monitor participants from time of intake until they exit the program.

Assistance in Obtaining VA Benefits
If the eligible participant is not receiving services from the VA, Veterans Resource Specialists will make participants aware of the services for which he or she may be eligible for and offer to refer the participants to the nearest VA facility.
If the eligible participant is already receiving services from the VA, Veterans Resource Specialists will focus on what additional services the participant may need, want and be eligible for.
Assistance in Obtaining VA Benefits
Veterans Resource Specialists will assist eligible participants in obtaining and coordinating other public benefits in the area including:

  • Healthcare services
  • Healthcare navigation
  • Income support services (disability, social security, TANF, unemployment assistance, SNAP/food stamps)
  • Legal services
  • Child care services
  • Personal financial planning services
  • Transportation services
  • Employment assistance

Program Criteria

Veteran Status
SSVF will verify veteran status through one of the following documents:

  • DD214
  • VBA Statement of Service
  • VHA Veteran’s ID card
  • VISTA printout from VHA healthcare provider
  • HINQA
  • NA13038
  • VBA award letter
  • Veterans Choice Card
  • VA photo ID card
  • SQUARES

Homelessness Criteria

Category 1: Residing in permanent housing, but a risk of losing their housing and becoming literally homeless.
Category 2: Homeless and scheduled to become a resident of permanent housing within 90 days pending the location or development of suitable permanent housing.
Category 3: Exited permanent housing in the last 90 days to seek other housing responsive to the family’s needs and preferences.
Income Inclusions

  • Earned income (wages/salaries)
  • Self-employment/business income
  • Pension/retirement income
  • Unemployment and disability income
  • Armed forces income
  • Interest and dividend income
  • TANF/public assistance
  • Alimony and child support income
  • G.I. Bill Housing stipend

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the programs associated with Pine Belt Mental Health?
Pine Belt Mental Health was awarded the SSVF grant by the Department of Veterans Affairs. SSVF staff members are employed through PBMHR, but SSVF participants do not have to be a PBMHR client.
Do I have to be honorably discharged to qualify for these programs?
In order to be eligible for SSVF, the Veteran must have a discharge status that is anything other than dishonorable.
Are the programs only offered to Veterans who reside in Jackson, MS to the coast?
This specific SSVF program works with participants who reside in Jackson, MS south to the coast. However, most other states in the country have at least one SSVF program. Please visit http://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/index.asp or click here to find a complete list of SSVF programs.
How will I know if I qualify for any of the programs?
All interested applicants must call the SSVF Office at (601) 545-3668 to see if they may be eligible for SSVF assistance.

Contact

For more information regarding SSVF contact:
Oak Arbor
4507 Hwy 49 South
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Phone: 601.545.3668
Fax: 601.545.2926
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.