SEELEY LAKE - For veterans experiencing a housing crisis, Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) is designed to assist with housing stability. The SSVF Program also provides eligible veteran families with outreach, case management, assistance obtaining Veteran Administration (VA) benefits, other supportive services and financial assistance.
The SSVF is a program through the Volunteers of America Northern Rockies. It has been in existence since 2010. Based upon the increased need in Missoula, Ravalli, Granite, Powell and Mineral counties, SSVF established an office in Missoula in April 2015. Service coordinators make frequent visits to Seeley Lake to meet with veterans.
The SSVF program is based on the rapid rehousing model that addresses Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, housing being first. By providing a home, SSVF provides safety and security first and then follows up with other services as needed. For the purpose of securing or maintaining permanent housing, participants may be eligible to receive short-term financial assistance.
John Gardipee is one of the service coordinators for the SSVF in Missoula. He said veterans are near and dear to his heart. He served 14 years in the Army himself and several family members served before him.
Gardipee explained that the program is based on the Housing First Model. This model gets homeless people into homes or apartments as quickly as possible. This has been proved to be 85 percent effective for individuals who then follow through with treatment plans and continue to be a functioning member of society. Stable housing, versus transitional housing, is much more effective especially when it is in the person’s preferred community.
Gardipee said that SSVF will help with rent, rental deposits and fees depending on income. They will also help with utilities, back rent and help the veteran connect to resources in the community for job opportunities, credit building and budget building.
Once a veteran is in a home, SSVF can provide an emergency housing kit that includes 68 items to help them get settled. Items include pots and pans, bedding, towels, toilet paper, etc. They also will help with other costs like automotive repairs if it is a necessity to daily living.
“Our desire is to help veterans get to a point where they don’t need the assistance of the SSVF program,” said Gardipee. “We try to keep them in the community that they want to stay and work.”
Veterans that have served at least one day of active duty are eligible for the program. For more information for yourself or a veteran you know that may need assistance call the Missoula office at 406-926-3600 and ask for Gardipee or Greg Norgaard, both service coordinators. They will ask a brief set of questions to determine eligibility and then set up an appointment either at their Missoula office, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., or they will travel to the veteran within their five counties. Veterans who live outside of the five counties that the Missoula office services, can call 844-486-2838 to find the nearest location.
The SSVF is fully funded through a grant from the VA to address veteran homelessness.
“For the one percent of our country who have served, our veterans, this is a hand-up benefit that they have earned,” said Gardipee. “They earned this for keeping our country free.”
For more information about SSVF visit http://www.voanr.org
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