The King County Veterans Program (KCVP) has been implementing the Collaborative Case Management Program (CCM), in part funded by the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy, since 2021 to further support veterans in finding housing. Over the past two years the program has moved 125 homeless veterans and their families into housing in partnership with the King County Housing Authority (KCHA) and U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The program, which recently was featured in The Seattle Times, has become a national model for reducing homelessness among veterans.
“I cried because I thought man, I looked around. I don’t believe I have my own place, being homeless for half my life. It’s only the second time that I’ve ever had a place of my own. I mean, I lived on park benches and everywhere” shared Huck, a United States Veteran housed through the CCM program.
National Recognition
The CCM program has been recognized with an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The award honors innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.
“The Achievement Awards demonstrate excellence in county government and the commitment to serve our residents every day,” said NACo President Denise Winfrey. “This year’s winners represent some of the most innovative and collaborative efforts we have seen in over 50 years of presenting these awards.”
“I am very proud of the CCM program and its recognition with an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties, “shared Leon Richardson King County’s Department of Community and Human Services Adult Services Division Director. “The award recognizes the collaborative and creative partnership between the King County Veterans Program, King County Housing Authority and U.S Department of Veterans Affairs and how working together and combining resources is making a difference for veterans in King County.”
Collaborative Case Management Program
In 2021, the program initially launched as a pilot and now is a permanent program after successfully housing veterans by utilizing federal housing vouchers that may otherwise have gone unused. CCM combines the power of the VA, their federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers, the expertise of KCVP social services staff, and housing navigation coordinated through KCHA 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, particularly expanding reach to veterans who need rental assistance but fewer additional supports to remain stably housed. KCHA identifies housing units and accepts the housing vouchers for eligible Veterans. KCHA’s housing navigation is combined with KCVP’s supportive services. 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.
“Through the Collaborative Case Management program we’ve been able to create sustainable pathways for servicemembers to achieve long-term housing stability through use of HUD-VASH vouchers. KCHA is grateful for the opportunity to partner with King County to innovate and test new approaches that other communities can replicate to expand affordable and permanent housing for servicemembers experiencing homelessness,” shared Kristy Johnson KCHA’s Senior Director for Policy, Research and Social Impact Initiatives.
Veterans and their families are connected to the CCM 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.
“Over the past two years the King County Veterans Program has built the Collaborative Case Management program into a highly utilized tool to reduce veteran homelessness in King County. Our valued partnerships with Veteran-serving organizations in our area, and funding sources, including our local Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy, have resulted in over 125 veterans receiving permanent housing through the CCM program in its first two years” said Megan Stanley, Veterans Administrator at the King County Department of Community and Human Services.
Download a one-pager recapping the CCM program’s first two years.
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