SSVF Program Update Friday February 18, 2022
DUE: FY22 ARP Funds Addendum #1 Signed Copy due March 4, 2022
DUE: FY22 ARP Budget Submission Activity due March 4, 2022, via SmartSimple (UDPaaS)
UPDATE: SSVF FY22 Veteran Satisfaction Survey
SAVE THE DATE: June 6, 2022 - June 13, 2022: Upcoming 2022 Virtual Conference “
RESOURCE: CDC Updated Vaccine Information
REMINDER: Special Program Announcement: A Tool for Staff Support
RESOURCE: DOL Grants and Funding Opportunities Webinar, Februar
DUE: FY22 ARP Funds Addendum #1 Signed Copy due March 4, 2022
On February 17, 2022, all Grantees should have received a copy of their ARP Addendum #1 via email. This time sensitive material is regarding your current FY22 agreement to increase the amount of funding available for Legal Services and Health Care Navigation.
Please sign and upload this addendum to Smart Simple/UDPaaS by March 4, 2022.
If you have any questions regarding this activity, please reach out to your Regional Coordinator or email the SSVF inbox at: ssvf@va.gov . Please ensure you identify the grant number in the subject line.
DUE: FY22 ARP Budget Submission Activity due March 4, 2022, via SmartSimple (UDPaaS)
The Program Office sent information regarding instructions on how to submit this activity via email to all account owners on February 17, 2022. All SSVF Grantees must submit
The FY22 ARP Budget Excel template must reflect the total amount of funding provided in the FY22 MOA, plus the American Rescue Plan (ARP) amount for Health Care Navigation and Legal Services in the addendum.
FY22 MOA funds + ARP addendum funds = Budget total
ARP funding is specifically for Legal Services and Health Care Navigation. ARP funding is included in the FY22 budget but will have a separate account in the HHS Payment Management System (PMS).
Budget line items for Health Care Navigator (HCN) position(s) must equal at least the whole awarded ARP amount for HCN. Budgeted line item(s) for Legal Services must equal at least the whole awarded ARP amount for Legal Services.
Subcontracted Legal Services would be included under "Other Non-Personnel Provision and Coordination of Supportive Services Expenses" and in-house legal counsel/positions would be included under "Personnel/Labor".
Please note: You must enter at least the whole ARP amount awarded but have the option to increase the budgeted amount utilizing FY22 funding based on anticipated need. If that option is utilized, ARP funds for HCN and Legal Services should be drawn down in PMS first. In addition, at the end of this budget cycle, if the full ARP amount has not been spent, it can carry over to FY23 if needed.
ARP funds must be used specifically for HCN and Legal Services and may not be re-allocated to other budget line items.
As part of the Activity Submission, you will provide the budget start date of July 1, 2022, and will enter your anticipated end date based on projected spending.
Please note: The targeted end date to complete FY22 ARP spending is March 31, 2023.
If you have any questions regarding this activity, please reach out to your Regional Coordinator or email the SSVF inbox at: ssvf@va.gov . Please ensure you identify the grant number in the subject line.
UPDATE: SSVF FY22 Veteran Satisfaction Survey
SSVF FY22 Veteran Satisfaction Survey 1st Quarter Reports will be distributed on February 18, 2022, and contains an in-depth review of the results of the survey at the Grantee level. Grantee Senior Leadership must ensure the report results and responses are reviewed thoroughly by all staff.
Satisfaction Survey Reminder: SSVF requires all Veterans (except HUD VASH packet referrals) must be registered for the Satisfaction Survey within 30 days of exit from the program. If you need to review the Veteran Satisfaction Survey update on registration, you may refer to this previous webinar: https://www.va.gov/
If you need guidance or follow-up, please reach out to your Regional Coordinator.
SAVE THE DATE: June 6, 2022 - June 13, 2022: Upcoming 2022 Virtual Conference “Putting It All Together: Enhanced Partnerships to Serve those who Served”
The U.S Department of Veterans Affairs, in partnership with our other Federal Partners, is pleased to send this Save the Date for our upcoming 2022 Virtual Conference – Putting It All Together: Enhanced Partnerships to Serve those who Served! This conference will feature twelve virtual sessions over the course of two weeks, June 6th and June 13th. Most sessions will last 90 minutes and will cover a variety of topics focused on ending homelessness among Veterans. We anticipate being able to offer Continuing Education Credits to attendees. Registration information and a detailed agenda will be sent in the coming weeks! We look forward to “seeing” you in June!
RESOURCE: CDC Updated Vaccine Information
Encouraging Veterans and their family members enrolled in SSVF to get their COVID-19 vaccines is still important to protect them from serious illness or death and to protect your staff and other clients in your program. The CDC has recently released guidance about how to talk with people about their vaccine status to clarify the difference between being ‘up to date’ which means that the person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible, and being ‘fully vaccinated’ which means the person has received their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines. Homeless people have lower vaccination rates and higher risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 than the general population. SSVF staff, particularly Health Care Navigators, should talk with Veterans about their vaccine status and help them access vaccines if needed.
REMINDER: Special Program Announcement: A Tool for Staff Support
The ongoing COVID health emergency has placed significant strains on your agencies and staff. We continue to witness the extraordinary efforts you have taken to help meet the needs of the most vulnerable among us, despite these incredible demands. One source of potential support that may again become available are in-person conferences. In addition to their training benefit, conferences are opportunities to interact with colleagues and refuel. Through the end of the fiscal year, as the SSVF program office will not be sponsoring an in-person national conference or spring regional meetings, funding that normally would be used by grantees to support such travel can support other in-person training. This allowable expense would be in addition to the 1% already allowed for staff education. As always, any training supported with SSVF funds must relate directly to the provision of services to homeless Veterans and their families or training that would enhance SSVF staff development as it relates to their position. We hope this modest change will give you another tool for staff support.
RESOURCE: DOL Grants and Funding Opportunities Webinar, February 24, 2022, at 3:00pm EST (see attachment)
In an effort to engage with new organizations, the Department of Labor is conducting a webinar session to introduce organizations to grant opportunities. It is scheduled for Thursday, February 24, 2022, at 3:00pm EST. Attached is the flyer with a link to the event.
With Regards,
SSVF Program Office
Website: www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf
National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: 1-877-424-3838
Veterans Crisis Hotline: 1-800-273-8255