Saratoga County RPC Newsletter

Newsletter
Ballston Spa, New York
Fall/Winter 2013
Supportive Services for
Veteran Families
A New Program administered by Saratoga
County Rural Preservation Company
This Issue:
How this new
Program will assist
low income veterans
Fall/Winter 2013
Board of Directors
Julia Towne
Ballston Spa, New York
Message from the
Executive Director
President
Dear Supporters and Friend:
David Allard
In this issue, you will learn about the new program we started on October 1,
Vice-President
2013, called the Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF). We believe
this is one more needed step to help our homeless veterans as well as those
Thomas Ratsep
Treasurer
veteran families in danger of becoming homeless.
Also in this issue, we recognize the many organizations that have made donations
Debora Bouchard
Secretary
to both the Guardian House and the Vet House; without the generosity of
these groups, the services we provide to homeless veterans would be severely
reduced.
Members at Large
Joyce Dominick-Schaefer
We held our first annual 5K race on September 29th, with nearly 100 runners
participating, and it was a success! Look for notices next year when we sponsor
our second annual event!
Rocco Ferraro
We have plans to add additional offices, storage space and a workout room for
Edward Gradwell
the women at the Guardian House; we have applied for two grants and will be
Michael Prutsman
using the $25,000.00 in gift cards we received from Home Depot to help offset
Bruce Relyea
the total cost of the rehab.
Patti Southworh
We hope your holidays are joyful and that the New Year brings you all that you
are wishing for.
A.C. (Budd) Mazurek
Executive Director
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Fall/Winter 2013
SCRPC Staff
Administration
A.C. (Budd) Mazurek
Executive Director
[email protected]
Mary Laskey, Finance Director
[email protected]
Marta Hay, Ass’t Finance Director
[email protected]
Marge Brahm, Admin Manager
[email protected]
James Colville, Maintenance
Saratoga Regional Housing Services
Robin Deierlein, Director, Section 8
[email protected]
Colleen O. Smith, Assistant
[email protected]
Stan Urbonowicz, Inspector
[email protected]
Larry Skramstad, Facilities Manager
Community Development
Community Development Resources
[email protected]
VET HELP
Don Little, Director
[email protected]
Terry Clare, Senior Case Manager
[email protected]
Leigha Martin, Case Manager
[email protected]
Leslie Carroll, Case Manager
[email protected]
Julianne Thomas, Administrative
Coordinator, SSVF
[email protected]
Bill May, Outreach Specialist/
Case Manager, SSVF
[email protected]
Jonathan Parsons, Outreach
Specialist/Case Manager, SSVF
[email protected]
Admin/Housing Programs-885-0091
Vethelp/Veterans Programs-885-0673
Ballston Spa, New York
SCRPC PROGRAMS
VET HELP
VETerans Housing, Employment and Life skills Programs
The following are the services we provide to homeless veterans:
We have a 12 bed transitory house for homeless male veterans and an 11 bed
transitory house for homeless women veterans, both located in Ballston Spa;
veterans can stay for as long as two years. We also have a 12 unit apartment
complex in the Town of Wilton for formerly homeless veterans and their
families; several of the current residents came from our transitory facility. We
also have a two family residence in Ballston Spa which we rent to formerly
homeless, disabled veterans and their families. In addition, our housing division
runs the County wide Section 8 voucher program and the Rental Assistance
Program for Saratoga Springs; both are avenues to help the homeless vet
secure permanent housing. In addition, we provide case management, legal
and benefits advocacy, employment assistance, treatment programs through
the VA to treat PTSD, TBI, drug/alcohol addiction as well as medical/dental care.
We counsel the veterans on budget issues, relationship building/repairing and
living an independent life after they successfully graduate from our program.
Supportive Services to Veterans Families (SSVF) program is designed to help
Veteran families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless with
temporary financial assistance and extensive case management to quickly
help the families regain stability in permanent housing. Temporary Financial
Assistance, for income qualified veterans, can include rental assistance,
utility/fee payments, deposits, moving costs, transportation, child care and
emergency supplies. This program covers the following areas: Washington,
Warren, Saratoga, Schenectady, Fulton, Montgomery and Schoharie Counties.
For more information, call toll free at 1-855-233-1117.
Saratoga Regional Housing Services
(SRHS)
Section 8 – SRHS administers the Section 8 voucher rental assistance programs
for the County of Saratoga and the Town of Wilton, with over 250 families
receiving subsidies each month. Our office also oversees the Rental Assistance
Program for Homeless Person with Disabilities for the City of Saratoga Springs,
as well as the incoming VASH vouchers for homeless veterans. We administer
the NHTD (Nursing Home Transition & Diversion) program for the Counties
of Saratoga and Washington. In addition, we are the Property Managers at
the Allen Drive apartments in Saratoga Springs, for the Saratoga Affordable
Housing Group
Community Development
Community Development Resources LLC, administers SCRPC programs
funded by various NYS agencies to help improve the housing needs of low
income families in Saratoga, Washington and Schenectady Counties.
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Fall/Winter 2013
Ballston Spa, New York
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES
What is it? What does it do for veterans? Why is it needed?
What are the program objectives?
In many ways, the Veterans’ Administration has provided much needed services to our
veterans and active duty military personnel; those services include medical, dental and
mental health programs, treatment programs, service related disability payments, pension,
employment opportunities, the G.I. Bill, home loans, life insurance, survivor’s benefits,
cemetery services and burials. In addition, organizations like SCRPC provide transitional
housing and services for homeless veterans, case management, advocacy and assistance
Supportive
Services for
in securing permanent housing.
Veteran Families (SSVF)
With VA’s objective of eliminating homelessness among our
Support
– Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program (HUD-VASH)
for Vete
provide vouchers for low income veterans to assist in obtaining
permanent housing. The “housing First” model has been
(
SSVF
Purpose:
championed by the VA
for some
time and has had much success.
veterans, programs such as the Housing and Urban Development
The goal of the Supportive Services
However, for some
veterans,
the ability
to sustain
for Veteran
Families
program
is to their permanent
promote
housing
stability among
housing status
has been
a challenge;
unemployment, mental
ELIGIBILITY
Veteran
health issues, unexpected expenses, very
and low-income
other problems
havefamilies
caused many veteran
who reside in or are transitioning to
families to
suffering due
to eviction, loss of utilities, unreliable transportation, child care
To receive
supportive
services
permanent housing.
underissues,
this program,
you must:
etc.


Be The
a Veteran,
or a member
of
VA recognized
these challenges
three years ago and created the program we now
a family in which the head of the
call Supportive
for Veteran
Families (SSVF). This is a safety net program designed
household,
or spouseServices
of the head
of
Helping
the household is a Veteran.
4
Homeless
Veteran Assistance at:
Meet income eligibility requirements.
Saratoga County RPC-VETHELP
risk o
homeles
Utility Fee
Once you have scheduled an ap Security Deposit
pointment please bring the followFall/Winter 2013
Ballston Spa, New York
ing documents to your meeting:
 Utility Deposit
 Afamily
Photo ID
 challenges
Moving Costs
to give the veteran and his/her
assistance in coping with their
through
An undeleted DD-214 that
 Emergency
Supplies
extensive case management, benefits
advocacy,
and rehabilitation
counseling,
shows your
dischargevocational
status.
Child Care
employment and training services,
financial
legal services
and housing
 Proofpersonal
of any income
you planning,
may
be receiving
 temporary
Transportation
counseling services, to name some of the services offered; in addition,
financial


Housing Payment Receipts (if
currently in housing)
assistance (TFA), for income qualified veteran families, can include
A “Ve
served
the Un
you w
re
Copies of Landlord agreements
child care services, transportation
services, rental assistance, utility


Proof of income for all family

Social Security Card for all
family members
payment assistance, security deposits,
moving costs and emergency
members
ans and
Families
supplies.
ASE MANAGEMENT &
 Birth
certificates
of dependent
There are certain restrictions
on the
disbursement
of TFA’s-the
children
EFERRAL SERVICES
(If yo
Milit
Sup
number of times in a given period that a veteran can request TFA
Health Care
varies from service to service offered. The important note to bring out is that the TFA is
Daily Living
Activities
ortive
Services
forlife line – it is designed to help the veteran family get back on their feet;
not
a permanent
Financial Planning
the family(SSVF)
must continue to strive for independence and sustainability. With the continued
anTransportation
Families
assistance of the VA, through grantees like SCRPC, that sustainability can become a reality.
Income Support
Legal Assistance
Saratoga County Rural Preservation Company is proud to be a part of this effort to assist
Rep Payee/Fiduciary
our veterans – we’ve been doing so in one form or another for the past 24 years.
o has
rces of
even if
zone,
s.
BILITY
from
r the
m.) supportive
ve
services
s program, you must:
Veteran, or a member of
y in which the head of the
old, or spouse of the head of
sehold is a Veteran.
come eligibility requirements.
Supportive Se
for Veteran Fa
SCRPC, through its VetHelp division, launched the SSVF program on
(SSVF)
SSVF
Purpose:
October 1, 2013; our coverage area includes Washington, Warren,
The goalSchenectady,
of the Supportive
Services
Saratoga,
Fulton,
Montgomery and Schoharie
for Veteran Families program is to
Counties.
promote housing stability among
low-income
Veteran
If youvery
aware
of a veteran
familyfamilies
who are homeless or in imminent
who reside in or are transitioning to
danger of becoming homeless, have the veteran call us, toll free,
permanent housing.
at 1-855-233-1117.
5 Assistance at:
Homeless Veteran
Saratoga County RPC-VETHELP
Helping Homeles
risk of becom
homeless vetera
Fall/Winter 2013
Ballston Spa, New York
VETERANS SERVING VETERANS
Many of SCRPC‘s staff are veterans and joined our team because of
our mission; but did you know that………………
Jim Colville, Maintenance, was part of a US Army Special Forces unit?
Marge Brahm, Administrative Manager, is a US Army Vietnam Era
veteran?
Stan Urbonowicz, Housing Inspector, was part of a US Army tank crew
in the 1980’s?
Don Little, Vet Help Program Director, was a US Army combat medic in
Vietnam?
Terry Clare, Senior Case Manager, served in the US Army in the 1980’s?
Jonathan Parsons, Outreach Specialist, is a US Marine Corp vet serving
as a tank crewman?
Bill May, Outreach Specialist, Was a SEAL in the US Navy?
Budd Mazurek, Executive Director, was a US Army Military Intelligence
Officer during the Vietnam conflict?
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Fall/Winter 2013
Ballston Spa, New York
A heartfelt “THANKS” to the following – your
donations help us deliver much needed services
to our homeless veterans!
American Legion Post 91
Home Depot Foundation
American Legion Post 234
Home Depot of Saratoga Springs
American Legion Auxiliary Post 234
Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians
Malta Business & Professional Association
American Legion Post 278
NYS Division of Veterans Affairs
American Legion Post 337
Saratoga Springs Aerie 2586
American Legion Post 515
Saratoga Chapter #131 O.E.S.
American Legion Auxiliary Post 629
SCALA
American Legion Riders Post 1644
Shawangunk Correctional Facility
American Legion Sons Post 1700
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs
American Legion Auxiliary of Altamont
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1895
Ballston Spa National Bank
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8690
Blue Star Mothers of America
Brookhaven Golf Club
Catholic daughters of the Americas
Warren County Veterans’ Service
Wilton Rotary Club
Women of Prince Lutheran Church
Zonta, International
The Chu and Chan Foundation
Daughters of the American Revolution
Several personal donations were
Edinburg United Methodist Women
made In memory of:
Elks of Mechanicville & Stillwater
Louise Kleabonas
Girl Friends, Inc. – Albany Chapter
Dawn Perry
Goat Brothers Old Saratoga Motorcycle Club
Harvest Fest Committee
Joe Shagaski
Les Stay
And thanks to the many families
and individuals for your donations, as well!
7
Saratoga County
Rural Preservation Company
P.O. Box 563
Ballston Spa, New York 12020
The Guardian House
The Vet House