Veterans supportive housing program

760 CMR: EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND LIVABLE COMMUNITIES 760 CMR 70.00: VETERANS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM Section 70.01: Background and Purpose 70.02: Definitions 70.03: Eligibility 70.04: Contracts with Qualified Nonprofit Organizations 70.05: Waiver Provision 70.01: Background and Purpose The Veterans Supportive Housing Program (VSHP) was created by St. 2024, c. 150, s. 5. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), in consultation with the Executive Office of Veterans Services (EOVS), has established VSHP to assist qualified nonprofit organizations to develop and preserve supportive housing for eligible veterans and to provide wrap around services to meet the needs of eligible veterans. 70.02: Definitions Armed Forces. United States army, navy, marine corps, air force, coast guard and space force. EOHLC. Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. Eligible Veteran. A Veteran who meets the eligibility requirements of 760 CMR 70.03, and any additional requirements or criteria established by the VSHP Guidelines, including, but not limited to, eligibility restrictions for a Veteran who has received a dishonorable discharge from the Armed Forces, or was discharged or dismissed from the Armed Forces by reason of the sentence of a general court-martial. Homeless Veteran. A Veteran: (a) who is undomiciled and unable to secure permanent and stable housing without special assistance, including, but not limited to, a veteran who is inappropriately housed in an institutional facility and can safely live in the community where services are provided; (b) who lives in a transitional housing facility without permanent domicile; (c) who lives in the community, released or discharged after incarceration and who is without permanent and stable housing; or (d) who is at risk of becoming homeless due to circumstances and criteria established in the VSHP Guidelines. Qualified Nonprofit Organization. A private nonprofit organization: (a) with demonstrated success in developing or operating transitional and permanent housing programs for veterans; and (b) that is committed to ending veteran homelessness. Supportive Housing. Affordable rental housing project which includes supportive services designed to support tenants who need such services to maintain their tenancies. Veteran. A person who served in the active Armed Forces, regardless of length of service, and who was discharged or released therefrom. Veterans Supportive Housing. Supportive Housing in which there is an occupancy restriction in favor of Eligible Veterans, as may be further defined by the VSHP Guidelines. VSHP Guidelines. Guidelines issued by EOHLC, in consultation with the Executive Office of Veterans Services clarifying and further explaining 760 CMR 70.00, program policy and procedure. 1/3/25 (Effective 11/4/24) 760 CMR - 671 (Mass. Register #1538, 1/3/2025) 760 CMR: EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND LIVABLE COMMUNITIES 760 CMR 70.00: VETERANS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM Section 70.01: Background and Purpose 70.02: Definitions 70.03: Eligibility 70.04: Contracts with Qualified Nonprofit Organizations 70.05: Waiver Provision 70.01: Background and Purpose The Veterans Supportive Housing Program (VSHP) was created by St. 2024, c. 150, s. 5. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), in consultation with the Executive Office of Veterans Services (EOVS), has established VSHP to assist qualified nonprofit organizations to develop and preserve supportive housing for eligible veterans and to provide wrap around services to meet the needs of eligible veterans. 70.02 : Definitions Armed Forces. United States army, navy, marine corps, air force, coast guard and space force. EOHLC. Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. Eligible Veteran. A Veteran who meets the eligibility requirements of 760 CMR 70.03, and any additional requirements or criteria established by the VSHP Guidelines, including, but not limited to, eligibility restrictions for a Veteran who has received a dishonorable discharge from the Armed Forces, or was discharged or dismissed from the Armed Forces by reason of the sentence of a general court-martial. Homeless Veteran. A Veteran: (a) who is undomiciled and unable to secure permanent and stable housing without special assistance, including, but not limited to, a veteran who is inappropriately housed in an institutional facility and can safely live in the community where services are provided; (b) who lives in a transitional housing facility without permanent domicile; (c) who lives in the community, released or discharged after incarceration and who is without permanent and stable housing; or (d) who is at risk of becoming homeless due to circumstances and criteria established in the VSHP Guidelines. Qualified Nonprofit Organization. A private nonprofit organization: (a) with demonstrated success in developing or operating transitional and permanent housing programs for veterans; and (b) that is committed to ending veteran homelessness. Supportive Housing. Affordable rental housing project which includes supportive services designed to support tenants who need such services to maintain their tenancies. Veteran. A person who served in the active Armed Forces, regardless of length of service, and who was discharged or released therefrom. Veterans Supportive Housing. Supportive Housing in which there is an occupancy restriction in favor of Eligible Veterans, as may be further defined by the VSHP Guidelines. VSHP Guidelines. Guidelines issued by EOHLC, in consultation with the Executive Office of Veterans Services clarifying and further explaining 760 CMR 70.00, program policy and procedure. 1/3/25 (Effective 11/4/24) (Mass. Register #1538, 1/3/2025) 760 CMR - 671 760 CMR: EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND LIVABLE COMMUNITIES 70.03: Eligibility (1) Eligibility for Supportive Housing shall include households that include any of the following: (a) Homeless Veterans who have an unmet housing need as may be further defined by EOHLC in VSHP Guidelines; (b) Veterans who have 1 or more disabilities or other qualifying life challenges, as determined by EOHLC, including, but not limited to: 1. serious mental illness; 2. substance use disorder; 3. living with HIV or AIDS, or another chronic condition or affliction; 4. being a victim or survivor of domestic violence; and (E) post-traumatic stress disorder as may be further defined by EOHLC in VSHP Guidelines; or (c) Other Veterans who meet criteria that may be established in the VSHP Guidelines. 70.04: Contracts with Qualified Nonprofit Organizations (1) EOHLC may contract with a Qualified Nonprofit Organization to establish Veterans Supportive Housing in accordance with the procedures established in VSHP Guidelines for the development and preservation of Veterans Supportive Housing. (2) EOHLC may award up to an amount established by VSHP Guidelines per Eligible Veteran in a calendar year to a Qualified Nonprofit Organization that enters into a contract pursuant to 760 CMR 70.04(a)(1). (3) The Qualified Nonprofit Organization shall secure funding for the development and preservation of any Supportive Housing project within the timeframe required by EOHLC and shall follow all requirements and procedures that may be established by the VSHP Guidelines and the contract entered into pursuant to 760 CMR 70.04(a)(1), as applicable. 70.05: Waiver Provision Any provision of 760 CMR 70.00 not required by statute may be waived in writing by EOHLC or their designee based on a determination by EOHLC that the change is reasonable and consistent with the purposes of VSHP. 1/3/25 (Effective 11/4/24) 760 CMR - 672 760 CMR: EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND LIVABLE COMMUNITIES 70.03: Eligibility (1) Eligibility for Supportive Housing shall include households that include any of the following: (a) Homeless Veterans who have an unmet housing need as may be further defined by EOHLC in VSHP Guidelines; (b) Veterans who have 1 or more disabilities or other qualifying life challenges, as determined by EOHLC, including, but not limited to: 1. serious mental illness; 2. substance use disorder; 3. living with HIV or AIDS, or another chronic condition or affliction; 4. being a victim or survivor of domestic violence; and (E) post-traumatic stress disorder as may be further defined by EOHLC in VSHP Guidelines; or (c) Other Veterans who meet criteria that may be established in the VSHP Guidelines. 70.04: Contracts with Qualified Nonprofit Organizations (1) EOHLC may contract with a Qualified Nonprofit Organization to establish Veterans Supportive Housing in accordance with the procedures established in VSHP Guidelines for the development and preservation of Veterans Supportive Housing. (2) EOHLC may award up to an amount established by VSHP Guidelines per Eligible Veteran in a calendar year to a Qualified Nonprofit Organization that enters into a contract pursuant to 760 CMR 70.04(a)(l). (3) The Qualified Nonprofit Organization shall secure funding for the development and preservation of any Supportive Housing project within the timeframe required by EOHLC and shall follow all requirements and procedures that may be established by the VSHP Guidelines and the contract entered into pursuant to 760 CMR 70.04(a)(l), as applicable. 70.05: Waiver Provision Any provision of 760 CMR 70.00 not required by statute may be waived in writing by EOHLC or their designee based on a determination by EOHLC that the change is reasonable and consistent with the purposes of VSHP. REGULATORY AUTHORITY 760 CMR 70.00: M.G.L. c. 23B, § 35; St. 2024, c. 150, § 5. 1/3/25 (Effective 11/4/24) 760 CMR - 672