Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)
A VA-funded program that keeps Veteran families housed and rapidly rehouses those who've lost their home — delivered locally through nonprofits like Heaven-Sent.
What Is SSVF, and How Is It Different From HUD-VASH?
SSVF is a Department of Veterans Affairs program — not a HUD program — though it's built to work hand-in-hand with HUD-VASH. Where HUD-VASH pairs a permanent housing voucher with VA case management, SSVF funds nonprofit and community organizations directly to deliver fast, flexible help: preventing a Veteran family from losing their home in the first place, or rapidly rehousing them if they've already become homeless.
VA-Funded, Locally Delivered
The VA awards SSVF grants directly to nonprofits and consumer cooperatives — like Heaven-Sent — who deliver services on the ground in their own communities.
Fast & Flexible
Unlike longer-term voucher programs, SSVF is designed to move quickly — temporary financial assistance and case management aimed at stopping a crisis before it becomes homelessness.
Housing First Approach
Services are delivered without unnecessary preconditions, focused on getting and keeping Veteran families in permanent housing as the first priority.
Whole-Family Focus
SSVF serves the Veteran's entire household — spouses, dependents, and family members — not just the Veteran alone.
Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing
Every SSVF grantee, including Heaven-Sent, delivers services along two tracks depending on where a Veteran family stands right now.
Homelessness Prevention
For Veteran families currently housed but at real risk of losing that housing.
- Help catching up on rent or utility bills before eviction
- Mediation with landlords to keep a lease intact
- Budgeting and financial counseling to stabilize the household
- Connection to VA and community benefits before a crisis hits
Rapid Re-Housing
For Veteran families who are already homeless and need to get back into permanent housing fast.
- Help locating and securing a new rental unit
- Move-in costs: security deposit, first month's rent, utility deposits
- Short-term rental subsidy while the family stabilizes income
- Ongoing case management until the household is self-sufficient
Services Provided Under SSVF
Outreach & Case Management
A dedicated case manager assesses the family's needs and builds a housing stability plan.
Temporary Financial Assistance
Rent, utilities, moving costs, childcare, and transportation assistance to remove immediate barriers.
Benefits Navigation
Help obtaining VA benefits and other federal, state, and local assistance the family is entitled to.
Legal Services
Assistance with legal issues that threaten housing — evictions, outstanding fines, and child support disputes.
Housing Counseling
Guidance finding suitable housing and understanding lease obligations and tenant rights.
Credit & Financial Counseling
Help repairing credit and building the financial footing needed to keep housing long-term.
SSVF Eligibility
Eligibility is assessed household by household, but the standard criteria are:
- ✓ The head of household — or their spouse — is a Veteran who served at least one day of active duty
- ✓ Household income generally falls at or below 50% of the area median income (some grantees may serve up to 80% AMI under current VA guidance for high-cost areas)
- ✓ The family is currently homeless, or housed but at real risk of becoming homeless
- ✓ The family is able to live independently once housing is stabilized, or is transitioning toward that goal
How a Family Gets Help
Reach out
Call, email, or walk in — Heaven-Sent or your local SSVF grantee does an initial screening.
Eligibility & needs assessment
A case manager verifies eligibility and builds a picture of what's actually needed — money, mediation, benefits, or all three.
Housing stability plan
Together you build a plan: prevent the loss of current housing, or move quickly toward new permanent housing.
Ongoing support
Case management continues until the family is stable — this isn't a one-time check, it's a relationship.
Four Ways to Support SSVF Through Heaven-Sent
🪖 If You're a Veteran Family
If you're housed but falling behind, or already without a home, reach out — this is exactly what SSVF exists for.
Contact Heaven-Sent →🤝 Volunteer
Heaven-Sent needs hands for outreach, move-in day support, benefits paperwork help, and community events.
Ask About Volunteering →💛 Donate or Partner
In-kind donations, landlord partnerships, and financial gifts directly fund rent, deposits, and case management.
Support the Mission →🏢 Landlords & Property Owners
If you have units to rent, partnering with Heaven-Sent connects you to Veteran tenants backed by ongoing case management support.
Become a Housing Partner →SSVF is authorized under Section 604 of the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008 (38 U.S.C. § 2044) and administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Program figures reflect the most recent published VA Notice of Funding Opportunity. For the official program page, visit va.gov/homeless/ssvf.
Referral and Case Summary Only: Heaven-Sent Community Services & Veterans Assistance uses this form to collect information the client voluntarily provides so staff can make referrals and help the receiving SSVF, VA, HUD-VASH, or housing provider begin its own intake. This form does not determine eligibility, enroll a participant, approve financial assistance, issue a housing voucher, or replace the receiving program’s required forms, privacy notices, releases, or verification process.
SSVF Comprehensive Intake & Casework Form
Veteran-family housing-stability screening, preliminary eligibility review, services planning, documentation, financial-assistance workflow, consent, referral coordination, and follow-up.