The document summarizes services provided by Crisis Ministries, a homeless shelter, and its partnership with the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. It details Crisis Ministries' history and facilities, clinical and legal services offered, programs for veterans including HUD-VASH, and keys to helping clients achieve stability. It also recommends ways to improve outcomes through the HUD-VASH program and Crisis Ministries' partnership with the VA.

1. Service Priorities For Homeless Veterans- How Does VASH Fit? July 14, 2011

2. Brief History Began in 1984 Men’s Shelter and Soup Kitchen at first Moved to current location in 1987 Piggly Wiggly donated main building Family Center built in 1991 Supportive Services grew in the 1990’s to focus on ending people’s homelessness, not just feeding and sheltering

3. Men’s Shelter 70 Emergency Shelter Beds 14 Male Veteran Beds Family Center 30 Emergency Shelter Beds 10 Female Veteran Beds Transitional Living Center – TLC 4 Bedrooms Up to 4 families Where we are today

4. Clinical Services Clinical staff = multidisciplinary team of front-line staff, case-managers, medical staff, psychiatrists and counselors 12 front-line staff 11 counselors, case managers, etc. 3 psychiatrists Many masters-level students, legal interns and externs, medical and nursing students

5. Clinical Services Legal Since 2006, has provided free civil legal services to all guests Focus on disability claims, VA benefits, family law, landlord tenant issues, birth certificates and identification Partnership between Legal Aid, Chas. School of Law, Charleston Co. Bar

6. Clinical Services Veterans Services 14 Male Veteran Beds 10 Female Veteran Beds Returned over 55% to self-sufficiency, higher than regional average

7. Crisis Ministries/VA Partnership HUD/VASH Veterans’ Treatment Court Child Support Initiative

8. Partnership Between Crisis Ministries and Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center Two VA Programs -HCHV Clinic -Grant per diem program -five staff -HUD/VASH -Housing resource -three staff (one vacancy)

9. HUD/VASH Case Managers obtain clients: -Housing Resource Walk-In clinic held three times weekly -referrals from HCHV program -referrals from Crisis Ministries -other referral sources within VA hospital and walk-ins

10. Crisis Ministries Case Managers - Take referrals for Crisis Ministries Veterans Transitional Dorm -Coordinate referrals for Up & Out funds or HPRP funds -Homeless Justice Project accepts referrals from HUD/VASH case managers (referred clients may or may not be eligible for HUD/VASH program)

11. Keys to Positive Outcomes and Stability -intensive case management -home visits/office visits -number of visits individualized to client -monthly life skills groups -Charleston Housing Authority keeps HUD/VASH clients on rolls for six months post discharge from program

12. What Would Make HUD/VASH More Successful -clients obtain VA benefits quicker -more HUD vouchers available for clients -more affordable housing -more employment opportunities for veterans

13. Crisis Ministries/VA Partnership ABA Commission on Homeless and Poverty Initiative Veteran’s Treatment Court - partnership between Crisis Ministries, VA Justice Outreach Coordinator, Probate Court, Solicitor’s Office, and Public Defender’s Office

14. Crisis Ministries/VA Partnership ABA Commission on Homeless and Poverty Initiative Veteran’s Child Support Clinic Project to address unresolved child support issues Nine Pilot sites: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, San Diego, Seattle, and Washington DC