The Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University was recently recognized by the New York State Health Foundation (NYSHealth) as one of the foundation’s “Best of 2014.” The IVMF was cited in the organization’s widely circulated Best of 2014 report for its initiatives in supporting the needs of returning veterans and their families.
In 2014, NYSHealth partnered with the IVMF to help develop 21 community-based programs to serve veterans and their families. IVMF worked with all 21 organizations to help secure more than $25 million in federal funding from the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, which supports community-based services to help prevent low income veterans and their families from becoming homeless.
IVMF worked together with the organizations to create programs using the NYSHealth-funded “Coming Home to Caring Communities: A Blueprint for Serving Veterans & Families,” developed by the Veterans Outreach Center (VOC) in Rochester. Communities receiving the SSVF support created VOC lookalike programs to expand health and social services to veterans and their families.
Mike Haynie, vice chancellor for veteran and military affairs at Syracuse University and executive director of the IVMF, praised the report and acknowledged the IVMF’s efforts to help New York State communities improve upon their service delivery systems for veterans and their families. Haynie added, “This recognition highlights the expanded mission of Syracuse University and the IVMF to not only educate and train returning veterans and their families, but to ensure an equal amount of support and assistance are provided to help our community-based organizations address their ongoing needs as well.”
New York State received the second largest allocation of 2014 SSVF grants in the United States, with much of the funding going to communities in New York City and on Long Island, where more than 80 percent of all homeless veterans in New York State live.
The grants build upon IVMF’s past efforts to leverage additional SSVF funding through technical assistance. Since 2012, New York State organizations have received a total of $46 million in SSVF grants.
