Veterans Affairs GPD Transitional Program

Since 1994, the GPD Program has awarded grants to community-based organizations to provide transitional housing with wraparound supportive services to assist vulnerable Veterans move into permanent housing. According to Veterans Affairs, the GPD Program, “is offered annually (as funding permits) by the Department of Veterans Affairs to fund community agencies providing services to Veterans experiencing homelessness.

The purpose of the transitional housing component of the program is to promote the development and provision of supportive housing and services with the goal of helping homeless Veterans achieve residential stability, increase their skill levels and/or income, and obtain greater self-determination.

Additionally, the GPD Program offers Case Management grants to support housing retention for Veterans who were previously homeless and are transitioning to permanent housing.”

Awards Based on Rating System

And although the GPD program does not specifically require the veterans to maintain sobriety, applicants are awarded points based on a rating system using certain criteria. To be eligible for a capital grant, an applicant must receive at least 750 points (out of a possible 1000) and must receive points under each of the following:

• The measurable objectives to determine success of the supportive services (300 pts):

      How the success of the program will be evaluated on an ongoing basis. 

      How the nutritional needs of veterans will be met. 

      How the agency will ensure a clean and sober environment. 

      How participants will be assisted in assimilating into the community through access to neighborhood facilities, activities, and services.

• Outreach to persons on streets and in shelters (100 pts):

     The agency's outreach plan to serve homeless veterans living in places not ordinarily meant for human habitation (e.g., streets, parks, abandoned buildings, automobiles, under bridges, in transportation facilities) and those who reside in emergency shelters.

• The ability of an applicant to develop and operate a project (200 pts). That includes training and experience of staff, providing supportive services such as those indicated above.

• Need. VA will award up to 150 points based on the extent to which the applicant demonstrates:

     Substantial unmet needs, particularly among the target population living in places not ordinarily meant for human habitation, and an understanding of the homeless population to be served and its unmet housing and supportive service needs.

• Completion confidence (50 pts). Based on the VA review panel's confidence that the applicant has effectively demonstrated the supportive housing or service center project will be completed as described in the application.

• Coordination with other programs (200 pts).  VA will award up to 200 points based on the extent to which applicants demonstrate that they have coordinated with Federal, state, local, private and other entities serving homeless persons in the planning and operation of the project.

Congressional Veteran’s Program

While it would seem that these transitional programs are providing these supportive services voluntarily, it’s not that simple. According to Title 38 Chapter I § 61.2, GPD program recipients, “must provide appropriate assistance, or aid participants in obtaining appropriate assistance, to address the needs of homeless veterans” to include:

• Outreach activities; 

• Providing food, nutritional advice, counseling, health care, mental health treatment, alcohol and other substance abuse services, case management services; 

• Establishing and operating child care services for dependents of homeless veterans; 

• Providing supervision and security arrangements necessary for the protection of residents; 

• Assistance in obtaining permanent housing; 

• Education, employment counseling and assistance, and job training; 

• Assistance in obtaining other Federal, State and local assistance available for such residents including mental health benefits, employment counseling and assistance, veterans' benefits, medical assistance, and income support assistance; and 

• Providing housing assistance, legal assistance, advocacy, transportation, and other services essential for achieving and maintaining independent living.

Timothy Pena initially traveled to NYC at the invitation of RIP Medical Debt founder and U.S. Navy Veteran Jerry Ashton to collaborate for his project, Veterans Mission Possible. Soon after arriving, Tim decided he would rather be homeless in NYC than commit suicide in Phoenix and spent five months in a shelter before obtaining his HUD/VASH voucher for supportive housing while detailing his journey from homeless to homeness with a series of articles called, 'Be the Story'. He has testified before the NYS Department of Veterans Affairs, is a member of the NYC Veterans Task Force and Military Veterans in Journalism, while founding The Forgotten Veteran non-profit. Email: Timothy Pena