June 3, 2024 - By Jeff Jardine - Providing access to mental healthcare services and benefits is a key element in CalVet’s vision of ensuring California’s veterans are connected, protected, and respected. 

The month of May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, presenting a prime opportunity to highlight the statewide programs and initiatives designed to reach and help veterans in need. Focusing on veterans’ mental health has always been a key priority at CalVet.  

“CalVet’s approach includes a blend of tried-and-true programs, such as supportive housing, and newer ones that focus on suicide awareness and prevention,” said CalVet Secretary Lindsey Sin. 

“We are leveraging every available tool to ensure that our veterans receive the care they deserve and can easily access a full array of related resources that empower them to thrive,” she said. 

CalVet collaborates with county, state, and federal agencies, along with community-based organizations and other private partners, who share our commitment to helping at-risk veterans. 

The Tried and True 

Two established programs have made significant impacts on the health and well-being of vulnerable veterans. 

The Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention Program (referred to as VHHP) was created when voters passed Proposition 41 in 2014. The program provides funding to developers who have a demonstrated history of building affordable, transitional, or supportive housing. Each VHHP development offers veterans access to affordable housing, with those experiencing mental health challenges receiving priority consideration. 

“There is an undeniable connection between behavioral health and securing and maintaining stable housing — something many of our unhoused veterans struggle with every day,” said Secretary Sin. 

Today, 60 VHHP-assisted developments are actively leasing statewide. They include more than 4,100 affordable and supportive housing units accessible to veterans. When all 100 VHHP-assisted developments are built, roughly 6,400 units will be available for veterans. 

Proposition 63 enables CalVet to advocate for mental health resources and programs throughout the state with the support of Mental Health Services Act funds. CalVet uses this funding to provide grants for improving mental health services to veterans through their County Veterans Service Offices. CalVet has issued a total of $2.54 million in grants, which are awarded in two-year cycles. 

The New Approaches 

Successful past approaches figure into our new ones. VHHP served as a blueprint for the supportive housing element of Proposition 1, passed by voters in March 2024. Proposition 1 dedicates $1.065 billion towards housing investments to support veterans vulnerable to, or experiencing homelessness, with a focus on individuals struggling with a behavioral health challenge or substance use disorder. 

In April, CalVet announced the availability of $38 million in grant funding under the California Veterans Health Initiative (CVHI), which is aimed at preventing veteran suicide.  

The CVHI is structured into three program areas: 

• Outreach and Education: Addresses various risk factors associated with veteran suicide by educating veterans, stakeholders, partners, and the broader community. The campaign emphasizes prevention programs and promotes veterans’ overall health and wellness. 

• The Mental Health Support Grant Program: Expands access to mental healthcare for veterans and their families by supporting a network of veteran-specific mental health grantees throughout the state. 

• The CVHI Research and Surveillance Team: Focuses on identifying and collecting veteran-specific suicide data; coordinating a statewide assessment of veterans’ mental health; and providing recommendations on future prevention, intervention, and post-intervention strategies. 

And with older veterans in mind, CalVet’s Veterans Support to Self-Reliance (VSSR) program awarded $20 million in pilot grant funds to several non-profit organizations throughout the state in March of 2023. These partners provide enhanced health-related supportive services for veterans aged 55 years and older currently living in permanent supportive housing. 

After the first year, approximately 337 veterans have signed on to participate in this program and its services. 

The VSSR Pilot gives service providers the necessary resources to increase the level of care within supportive housing, to ensure the veterans remain stably housed, and age in place with dignity. 

These mental healthcare programs, along with everything else we do, follow CalVet’s vision of helping California’s veterans be the most connected, protected, and respected in the nation. 

For information on these CalVet programs, please visit www.calvet.ca.gov/calvet-programs/veteran-services.

Please also visit www.mentalhealth.ca.gov, which will serve as a one-stop source for people in need of mental health support and includes information about the state’s ongoing behavioral health transformation.
Source: CalVet