In April 2021, King County launched a first in the nation pilot program to help veterans experiencing homelessness connect to safe and stable housing. The program, called the Collaborative Case Management (CCM) Pilot Program, combines the power of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), their federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers, the expertise of the King County Veterans Program (KCVP) social services staff, and housing navigation coordinated through the King County Housing Authority to increase utilization of federal housing vouchers to house more local Veterans in King County.
The program’s model serves low-income Veterans experiencing homelessness by pairing the federal vouchers that may otherwise have gone unused. The vouchers provide rental assistance and are combined with KCVP’s supportive services to address obstacles that veterans may be facing. Social Service Professionals (SSPs) at both KCVP’s Tukwila and Northgate locations are available to help veterans focus on maintaining their housing by providing support such as employment and training resources, access to physical and behavioral health services, and assistance with emergency food and other needs. The King County Housing Authority is partnering in the program by identifying housing units and accepting the housing vouchers for eligible Veterans.
Eligible Veterans are connected to the CCM pilot program by working directly with KCVP or through community-based agencies that partner with KCVP’s services. Pairing HUD-VASH housing vouchers with KCVP’s supportive services helps Veterans not only find housing, but successfully maintain their housing and work towards healthy and thriving lives in their communities.
“King County Veterans Program highly values our partnerships with Veteran-serving organizations in our area. Such partnerships have allowed us to flexibly and quickly assist Veterans, leveraging different programs and funding sources, including our local Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy,” said Megan Stanley, Veterans Administrator at the King County Department of Community and Human Services. “As a result, we have seen a reduction in Veteran homelessness as hundreds of Veterans in our community have received permanent housing through the Collaborative Case Management program and other vital support services.”
One year since the first Veteran was housed
June 18th marks the one-year anniversary of the first Veteran being housed through the program. Since the launch of the CCM program to date:
- The program has helped 75 Veterans find and move into permanent housing
- 133 (out of an initial allotment of 142) VASH vouchers were issued for Veterans to utilize to find housing so far.
- 99 Veterans utilized housing navigation services to assist with finding units, greatly reducing the time it takes to locate permanent housing.
- 219 Veterans were referred to the program from a total of nine community partner agencies.
- It took 75 days on average to get housed once a voucher was issued, for those who have been successfully housed.
- $1,574/month average income of CCM voucher recipients; representing 20% of Area Median Income for single adults in King County, which is considered ‘extremely low-income by HUD.
Direct Veterans looking for support to contact KCVP at 206-263-8387 to talk to a social service professional today.
Download a one-pager recapping the CCM’s first year.
