VOA Southeast’s Transitional Housing Program Offers Veterans a Stepping Stone from Homelessness to Stability
The journey out of housing insecurity doesn’t happen in a day: it’s a long path that requires many helping hands. Through transitional housing, VOA Southeast offers homeless or at-risk veterans a temporary place to live so they can get the foothold they need to make progress.
“Our main priority is to get veterans into housing, get them off the street, and then wrap services around them using a housing first model,” says Chad Cheshire, Director of Homelessness and Prevention Services at VOA Southeast. Cheshire has unique empathy for struggling veterans and insight into their difficulties. He served in Iraq and briefly experienced homelessness himself when he left the Army in 2011.
“We also serve veterans who are at risk of homelessness: veterans facing eviction, who need help with utility bills, or who are behind on their rent and don’t have the capability to get caught up.”
What is Transitional Housing for Veterans?
Transitional housing provides veterans with a safe place to live while they transition from homelessness or a crisis situation to permanent housing. It is a middle step between the short-term emergency housing of a homeless shelter and the permanent affordable housing of a home or an apartment.
Through transitional housing, veterans can find longer-term stability while they receive support services, such as medical treatment, financial assistance, job training, or treatment for substance use issues.
For instance, at a transitional housing residence such as Eagle’s Landing in Mobile, AL, veterans facing homelessness get a safe, secure place to live, on-site support services from VOA Southeast, and the benefits of a community of their peers. Operated in conjunction with the VA’s Grant and Per Diem program, Eagle’s Landing offers residents a place where they can stay for up to two years while working with a case worker to seek permanent housing (though most residents stay for only 9 to 12 months).
How does VOA Southeast Support Veterans through Transitional Housing?
VOA Southeast’s transitional housing program at Eagle’s Landing offers veterans more than a place to live. It also provides them with various support services that help them rebuild their lives, fulfill their obligations, cultivate their financial independence, and re-establish a network of social support from their peers.
“Our programs offer case management services that help veterans with mental health and substance abuse,” says Cheshire. “Once we get our clients housed, we can determine what the long-term plan is: there are section 8 vouchers and employment programs where we enroll our homeless veterans to give them long-term stability.”
Building a New Home after Loss: Michael’s Story
Meet Michael, a 61-year-old Alabama United States Marine Corps veteran who, in November 2022, was living out on the streets or occasionally at Waterfront Mission, a homeless shelter in Mobile, AL. Michael had been living in a home owned by his family, but he had to leave when they no longer had room for him.
That’s when VOA Southeast stepped in. Michael began working with a case manager who got him a spot at Eagle’s Landing, VOA Southeast’s transitional housing for veterans facing homelessness.
New Networks of Support
At Eagle’s Landing, Michael received the support he needed to start getting back on his feet. Finding a strong network of social support among the staff and fellow former service members, Michael began to come out of his shell and participate in activities with the rest of the community. He even helped decorate the community Christmas tree, something he’d never done before.
Within a year, with the support services he received from VOA Southeast, Michael was ready to move into permanent housing at a senior living apartment complex in Semmes, AL, in September 2023. Even after the move, he still comes to group meetings at Eagle’s Landing for community support, and he’s completed a Financial Peace University course to help him sustain financial independence.
Read more about Michael and other lives we’ve touched in our impact story, From Homeless to Housed: Three Veterans’ Stories at Eagle’s Landing
How do I Find Transitional Housing for Veterans Near Me?
VOA Southeast helps veterans find transitional housing to lift them out of poverty and into stable living situations. For more information on VOA Southeast’s housing services for veterans,
- Contact Deborah Murph at (251) 300-3968 for Veteran Services in Alabama
- Contact Chad Cheshire at (478) 919-2087 for Veteran Services in Georgia
For immediate 24/7 assistance, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans hotline at 1-877-424-3838 (1-877-4AID VET). You can find a complete list of VA programs for former service members facing homelessness here, and your local Veterans Service office is listed by county on this map.
Integrated Services Offered Through VOA Southeast’s Transitional Housing for Veterans
Stable, supportive housing is just the first step to rebuilding. VOA Southeast prides itself on a robust suite of integrated programs that assist those we serve in all areas of their lives. VOA Southeast offers further services for veterans in temporary housing who need help with the following:
- Financial instability
- PTSD and mental illness
- Substance abuse
- Self-sufficiency and everyday life skills
- Vocational training
- Job placement services
- Professional development
How VOA Southeast Works with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA)
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is VOA Southeast’s biggest partner in finding ways to get veterans the services, resources, and stability they need. VA benefits include pensions, disability compensation, job training and education, help with home loans, health care, insurance, vocational rehabilitation and employment, and burial benefits.
VOA Southeast employees and volunteers work closely with case managers from the VA’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program to help eligible veterans take advantage of all the opportunities the organization offers.
The Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program
The VA’s Grant and Per Diem (GDP) program funds community agencies like VOA Southeast that offer supportive housing services for veterans who are experiencing homelessness. The GDP also provides case managers who work closely with vets and with the organizations that serve them to help them retain housing once they’ve been placed in a new living situation.
The Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program
The Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) program prioritizes reaching out to offer medical and other support services to veterans in need. Outreach is often provided through Community Resource and Referral Centers located in large urban areas and through “stand-downs,” one- to three-day community events designed to reach the homeless population in the area.
FAQs About Transitional Housing for Veterans
Here are answers to more common questions about transitional housing, housing assistance, and related veteran services.
How Do I Move from Transitional Housing to Permanent Housing?
VOA Southeast and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs work closely with veterans in transitional housing to help them find a permanent place to live. Working with a VA case manager helps vets access resources they previously didn’t know were available, including disability benefits, rental assistance, and financial support for placing deposits on housing.
Who Pays for Transitional Housing?
Funding for transitional housing comes from various sources, including private donations from individuals, foundations, churches, and businesses, government grants from the VA, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Department of Health and Human Services. Grant funding often goes through state and local governments or nonprofit service providers.
Many transitional housing or permanent supportive housing programs also collect fees from residents based on a sliding scale. This way, residents who can afford to pay more can do so, while those who cannot afford to pay can still access the homeless program.
We Need You to Fulfill Our Mission
Giving and volunteering are essential to making a difference. Your donations are critical to help Chad Cheshire and all the other dedicated employees and volunteers at VOA Southeast support veterans like Michael throughout Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi.
Each year, with your help, our nonprofit organization positively impacts the lives of over 35,000 people throughout the region by
- Fostering long term stability for veterans
- Enriching the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities
- Promoting ongoing recovery for individuals dealing with substance abuse
- Empowering individuals with mental illness to achieve emotional health
- Helping at-risk children and youth build productive lives
- Facilitating healthy aging for low-income seniors
Make a one-time donation or consider giving monthly to sustain our work. We also accept vehicle donations!