HUD HCV Guidebook § 3.1

The VA provides case management services for participating veterans through its health care system
at VA medical centers (VAMCs) and community-based outreach clinics (CBOCs) across the 50 states,
the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
The VA makes the determination as to potential eligibility of identified veterans based on the
following criteria:1
    •   Veterans must meet the definition of homelessness defined in the McKinney-Vento Homeless
        Assistance Act as amended by S. 896 The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid
        Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2012.
            o Under this definition, a homeless individual or family is one that lacks a fixed, regular,
                and adequate nighttime residence; has a primary nighttime residence that is a public
                or private place not designed for regular sleeping accommodation (e.g. car, park,
                abandoned building, bus or train station); lives in a supervised shelter designated to
                provide temporary living arrangements; or will imminently lose their housing and lacks
                resources to obtain other permanent housing. (See the Glossary of this chapter for
                the comprehensive definition of homeless.)
    •   Veterans who are appropriate candidates for this program must need case management
        services, as determined by VA case workers, in order to obtain and sustain independent
        community housing.
    •   Eligible candidates for the program must participate in case management. The VA is
        responsible for providing appropriate treatment and supportive services to potential HUD-
        VASH program participants, if needed.
            o Case management is the heart of this program and is a requirement for participation
                in the HUD-VASH voucher program.

The VA screens potential candidates for the HUD-VASH program to ensure that the veteran meets the
qualifications above. If they do, the VA refers the veteran to the PHA. In addition, the VA is
responsible for:
    •   Providing appropriate treatment and supportive services to potential HUD-VASH program
        participants, if needed, prior to PHA issuance of rental vouchers;
    •   Providing housing search assistance to HUD-VASH participants with rental vouchers;
    •   Identifying the social service and medical needs of HUD-VASH participants and providing, or
        ensuring the provision of, regular ongoing case management, outpatient health services,

1 HUD-VASH Operating Requirements, Section A, “Family Eligibility and Selection.”

hospitalization, and other supportive services as needed throughout the veterans’
        participation period; and
    •   Maintaining records and providing information for evaluation purposes, as required by HUD
        and the VA.