VETERANS RESOURCES
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Welcome to ColumbiaCare’s Veterans Resources!
ColumbiaCare provides a full continuum of programming and resources for Veterans residing in Oregon and Washington. We recognize the unique challenges they may face including behavioral health issues, homelessness, unemployment, chronic health conditions, social isolation, and trauma. It is our mission to ease the strain Veterans may be experiencing by providing services to meet their specific needs. It is our great honor to serve those who have served us so well. ColumbiaCare works in coordination with the Veterans Health Administration, local government agencies, as well as other non-profits. |
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NEW! VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER (VRC)
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The Veterans Resource Center connects Veterans and their families with the services they need – starting with securing a roof over their heads. Our various programs can also assist enrolled Veterans in seeking employment, accessing or increasing their benefits, facilitating referrals to medical, psychiatric and dental providers, and coordinating care with various community partners providing other services to our Veterans. The VRC is focused on the overall wellness and reintegration of Military Veterans of all eras. With a primary focus on housing assistance, access to treatment, case management, and outreach, we take a holistic approach to addressing the individual needs of each Veteran. We invite all community partners to utilize the VRC as we combine efforts and collaborate to help those we serve. The VRC will serve as a single-entry point to provide the help Veterans need by forming a coordinated network of community partners.
The Veterans Resource Center is located at 601 N. Grape Street in Medford, OR 97501, and is open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Phone: 541.779.8564 | Fax: 541.779.9409 |
VETERANS CASE MANAGEMENT
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VETERANS ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTIVE HOUSING (VASH). ColumbiaCare is a contracted provider with the Veterans Administration to provide Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Case Management Services in Oregon and Washington. These services are provided by a dedicated team of mental health and housing professionals who work in partnership with the VA and other community agencies to help connect Veterans with qualified housing, as well as Case Management Services to assist them in maintaining that housing as they stabilize in other areas of their lives. ColumbiaCare's role in helping the Veteran during their reintegration and recovery process may include assisting with obtaining benefits, financial management, independent living skills, interfacing with landlords, accessing public transit and services, maintaining sobriety and improving mental health. (LANE COUNTY, DOUGLAS COUNTY, BENTON COUNTY, SEATTLE METRO AREA, AMERICAN LAKES & SNOHOMISH)
RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (RAP). RAP is designed to help high-needs individuals obtain independent housing in the community. Clients who qualify have a diagnosis of serious mental illness and are stepping down from higher levels of care, such as the state hospital or a licensed treatment facility. These individuals typically face many barriers to obtaining housing and it’s our focus to help them to overcome those obstacles. We provide support from the beginning of the housing search to help our clients see that it is possible to live outside of acute care settings and become a permanent member of the community. Referrals must be made by a provider that can verify the potential client’s mental health diagnosis and their income amounts. (JACKSON COUNTY) |
GRANT AND PER DIEM (GPD) HOUSING CASE MANAGEMENT. Our Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Housing Case Management program provides wraparound supportive services to Veterans who were previously homeless or at-risk of losing their housing. The GPD case management grants improve housing retention among formerly homeless Veterans by providing an array of individualized services that promote housing stability. When Veterans transition from homelessness to permanent housing, some may need help readjusting to the routines and responsibilities of managing their household affairs. The case management grants will help ensure that formerly homeless Veterans have the tools to remain in stable housing and successfully reintegrate back into their communities. Eligibility criteria for the GPD Housing Case Management is: a Veteran is determined eligible for VA Health Benefits, a Veteran is recently graduated from GPD or HCHV Housing, a Veteran is newly housed, or a Veteran is at risk of losing housing without other Case Management support. Program admission is contingent upon final approval after screening from GPD Program Staff. (JACKSON COUNTY)
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES (SSVF) SHORT-TERM HOUSING CASE MANAGEMENT. SSVF promotes housing stability among very low-income Veteran families who reside in or are transitioning to permanent housing. We do this through the provision of case management and financial support. The program provides rapid rehousing and homeless prevention services through evidence-based practices and case management strategies in order to achieve housing stability within 90 days. Case Managers provide eligible Veteran families with outreach, case management, and assistance in obtaining VA and other benefits, which may include: health care services, daily living services, personal financial planning services, transportation services, fiduciary and payee services, legal services, child care services, housing counseling services. (JACKSON COUNTY & JOSEPHINE COUNTY)
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES (SSVF) SHORT-TERM HOUSING CASE MANAGEMENT. SSVF promotes housing stability among very low-income Veteran families who reside in or are transitioning to permanent housing. We do this through the provision of case management and financial support. The program provides rapid rehousing and homeless prevention services through evidence-based practices and case management strategies in order to achieve housing stability within 90 days. Case Managers provide eligible Veteran families with outreach, case management, and assistance in obtaining VA and other benefits, which may include: health care services, daily living services, personal financial planning services, transportation services, fiduciary and payee services, legal services, child care services, housing counseling services. (JACKSON COUNTY & JOSEPHINE COUNTY)
- Homelessness prevention assistance eligibility is for Veteran families who are imminently at-risk of becoming literally homeless (e.g., entering an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation) but for SSVF assistance. Applicants must either be a Veteran or a member of a family in which the head of household, or the spouse of the head of household, is a Veteran. A Veteran is defined as a “person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, regardless of length of service, and who was discharged or released therefrom, excluding any one who received a dishonorable discharge or was discharged or dismissed by reason of a General court-martial. Applicant household gross annual income must be less than 50% of area median income based on the income limits most recently published at: http://www.huduser.org/portal/datasets/il.html.
- Applicant households must (1) be facing the imminent loss of their primary nighttime residence, (2) have no other residence, and (3) not have sufficient resources or support networks, e.g., family, friends, faith-based or other social networks, immediately available to prevent them from becoming literally homeless.
VETERANS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING
GRANT AND PER DIEM (GPD) TRANSITIONAL RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM.The Homeless Veterans Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program is a component of the Healthcare for Homeless Veteran’s (HCHV) Program and is meant to serve as a transitional living experience for homeless Veterans in need of mental health and/or substance use treatment. Veterans can reside in a GPD program up to two years while working on recovery, employment and independent living skills. GPD has a capacity for 40 Homeless Veterans housed throughout three large houses in Jackson County. Eligibility criteria for the GPD Transitional Residence is: a Veteran is determined eligible for VA Health Benefits, and the Veteran meets the homeless definition and/or has need as determined by VA GPD Liaison. Program admission is contingent upon final approval after screening from VA GPD Liaison and GPD Program Staff. (JACKSON COUNTY)
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VALOR PASS: HEALTH CARE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS (HCHV) SHORT-TERM TRANSITIONAL RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM. Valor Pass is a large, shared home that offers short-term, transitional housing for Veterans who are struggling with homelessness. This program can serve up to 10 Veterans, and staff are available 7 days per week with an on-site, live-in Residential Specialist. Various Support Groups and Outside Agency Outreach are offered 5 days per week, and each Veteran will receive a personalized “Recovery Care Plan” to outline specific goals for obtaining more permanent housing in the future. ColumbiaCare works closely with each Veteran’s VA Case Manager while the client is staying at the Valor Pass Program. All referrals for the program come directly from the local VA Homeless Services Program. Eligibility criteria for the GPD Transitional Residence is: a Veteran is determined eligible for VA Health Benefits, and Veteran meets the homeless definition and/or has need determined by VA HCHV Liaison. Program admission is contingent upon final approval after screening from VA HCHV Liaison and HCHV Program Staff. (JACKSON COUNTY)
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VETERANS PERMANENT HOUSING
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ColumbiaCare owns over 50 units of housing in the Jackson County area, and an additional 9 in Lane County, specifically for Veterans. We offer low barrier housing, meaning we work with Veterans that may have rental barriers such as criminal convictions, prior evictions, bad credit or no/bad rental histories. We understand that some of these histories may be due to circumstances that have since changed for the Veteran, so rather than establishing a “minimum requirement” we have an honest dialogue with the Veteran in order to get an understanding of what the situation was at the time and where the Veteran is at now. In addition, we work with all subsidy programs available to Veterans (HUD VASH, SSVF, Rental Assistance Programs, deposit assistance) with the aim of making sure Veterans with programmatic resources are not denied access to housing. We collaborate with service providers and work very closely with them to address any concerns or issues that arise in an effort to keep the Veterans housed once they are placed in our apartments. (JACKSON COUNTY & LANE COUNTY)
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Some Veterans Resources were funded in part by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings and conclusions stated herein are those of ColumbiaCare and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT veterans services in your area:
Please contact Joseph Chick, Veterans Services & Supportive Housing Program Director at 541.779.8564 or jchick@columbiacare.org.