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Veteran Services

Supportive Services For Veteran Families

Support Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) is made possible with funding to Front Steps from the US Department of Veterans Affairs. SSVF provides short-term, rapid rehousing assistance with intensive case management to very low-income veteran families to obtain stable permanent housing. The SSVF program focuses on intensive case management to help participants increase their ability to sustain permanent housing and reach their greatest potential.

Housing Stability Specialists will work with veteran families to identify their housing stability goals such as locating affordable rental housing, obtaining or maintaining employment, budgeting, or applying for VA and public benefits. In addition to working with a Housing Stability Specialist, the SSVF program is able to provide temporary financial assistance to the veteran household for some expenses relating to housing stability.

Veterans in Austin

In Austin, over 900 Veterans have been housed, and Veteran homelessness is down significantly since 2011- when Veterans accounted for over 14% of the homeless population. Currently, Veterans account for less than 3% of the homeless population. Texas has the second highest concentration of Veterans in the nation, and Austin is one of five areas of veteran concentration in the state. In 2016, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness certified Austin as having effectively ended Veteran Homelessness.

When they say Austin has “functionally ended” Veteran homelessness, it has reached a point where more Veterans are housed than those who are being identified as homeless. This means that any Veteran who becomes homeless and wants housing will move into permanent housing within an average of 90 days of connecting with our community-based response system.

Who is Eligible?

  • Individuals or Households with Veteran Status
  • At least 1-day active duty
  • Discharge status of anything other than dishonorable
  • Household is experiencing literal homelessness. Per HUD 24 CFR 576.2 (1), “literally homeless” is defined as an individual/family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, meaning:
  • An individual or family with a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, including a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground;
  • An individual or family living in a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements (including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, State, or local government programs for low-income individuals)
  • An individual who is exiting an institution where he or she resided for 90 days or less and who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution.
  • Annual Household Income and Assets are at or below 50% AMI.

If you are unsure of eligibility, contact Front Steps staff who can assist with gathering required eligibility documents.

How to Enroll?

To obtain SSVF you need to complete a coordinated assessment to get on a centralized prioritization list for services.

Complete a coordinated by contact the following: 

Sunrise Navigation Center

Address: 4430 Menchaca Road

Phone Number: 512-522-1097

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC)

Address: 505 Barton Springs Road, First floor

Phone Number: 512-974-4879

Hours: Wednesday, 12-4 p.m.

First Baptist Church

Address: 901 Trinity St

Phone Number: 512-476-2625

Hours: Monday-Friday, by appointment only. Call ahead to request in-person or phone appointment.

Salvation Army

Phone Number: (512) 476-1111

Address: 501 E 8th Street, Austin, TX 78701

Hours:  Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday 9 a.m.-11a.m/ 2 p.m.-4p.m.

Caritas of Austin (By Phone Only)

Phone Number: 512-472-4135

Hours:  Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.-10 a.m.

If you have questions about the coordinated assessment please visit our FAQ. 

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Corporate Office

Address: 4507 North Interstate 35, Austin, Texas 78722
Phone: (512) 696-1484
Email: info@frontsteps.org