Veterans Support to Self-Reliance (VSSR) Program | California Association of Veteran Service Agencies

What Is the Veterans Support to Self-Reliance (VSSR) Program?

For many veterans, finding housing is only part of the journey. The bigger question is what happens next.

For aging veterans and those living with complex medical, mental health, or mobility needs, long-term stability often depends on access to the right support services. Without that additional layer of care, even stable housing can become difficult to maintain over time.

That is where the Veterans Support to Self-Reliance (VSSR) program comes in.

All of our member agencies operate Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) for formerly homeless veterans; these sites offer stable housing in the community. In 2021, Swords to Plowshares and our CAVSA member agencies recognized a growing need for enhanced on-site support to help aging and medically complex veterans remain stable in (PSH). We brought this up to California leadership, and Governor Newsom designated funding for the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) to launch the VSSR Pilot Program, supported by $20 million in competitive grants to strengthen on-site supportive services in PSH settings.

Swords acts as the design, process evaluation, and technical assistance consultant to CalVet, and all but one of the pilot sites are operated by CAVSA member agencies. In simple terms, VSSR helps veterans stay safely housed, connected to care, and as independent as possible, particularly those aging in place or managing higher-acuity needs.

At the California Association of Veteran Service Agencies (CAVSA), we understand that lasting stability requires more than short-term solutions. Working on behalf of our member agencies, our policy, advocacy, and statewide collaboration efforts support stronger housing, health, and long-term outcomes for veterans across California. The program has been a success, but it is a 3-year pilot that will sunset soon. We are working to ensure the continuation and hopefully expansion of the program. Currently, Assembly Member Lori Wilson is championing a budget request to preserve these services.

The VSSR model is cost-effective at approximately $18,300 per veteran per year. By comparison, skilled nursing facility care in California routinely exceeds $100,000 per person annually, while frequent emergency care utilization can reach $40,000 or more. Participating sites also report strong housing retention, with only a 2% negative exit rate among veterans receiving VSSR services, compared with Permanent Supportive Housing sites showing upwards of 20% negative exit rates.

Why the VSSR Program Matters for Aging Veterans

California is home to a large and diverse veteran population, including many entering older adulthood while managing chronic health conditions, disabilities, histories of chronic homelessness, and the lasting effects of military service.

Our member agencies have greatly increased access to stable housing for these veterans, but we need to ensure that they can remain housed and healthy for as long as possible.

Through VSSR, veterans get help overcoming challenges such as:

Missing medical appointments
Mobility or accessibility limitations
Chronic physical or mental health conditions
Social isolation
Difficulty navigating healthcare systems
Habitability and hygiene and hoarding

When these needs go unsupported, they can lead to worsening health, increased reliance on emergency services, or housing instability.

Programs like VSSR help bridge that gap by supporting both housing and day-to-day living needs, creating a stronger foundation for long-term success.

If you are looking for support, explore CAVSA’s website.

This approach aligns with broader efforts such as VA Housing Assistance Programs and the HUD-VASH Program, both of which recognize that housing stability improves when paired with supportive services.

What Kind of Support Can Veterans Receive?

Supportive programs like VSSR focus on helping veterans stay connected to services that support long-term independence and stability.

These services may include:

Care coordination and case management
Medical and behavioral health navigation
Transportation assistance
Mobility and accessibility support
Meal and nutrition support
Peer support and community connection
Service assistance for help with hygiene and habitability
Occupational therapy
Referrals to local resources

While these supports may seem simple, they can be critical in preventing avoidable crises.

Something as basic as transportation to a medical appointment can prevent a health issue from becoming more serious. Meal support can improve health, while peer support can reduce isolation and improve well-being. Social activities and outings to prevent isolation and create a sense of belonging, exercise and engagement.

Organizations like the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans continue to highlight the importance of pairing housing with supportive services to improve long-term outcomes.

Why Supportive Housing for Veterans Matters

One common misconception is that once a veteran is housed, the problem is solved.

In reality, housing is only one part of a larger system.

Without the right support systems in place, veterans may still face:

Repeated emergency room visits
Missed care and worsening health conditions
Social isolation
Avoidable hospitalization
Institutional placement
Housing loss or returns to homelessness

Supportive housing recognizes that stability requires more than shelter. It requires a coordinated approach that includes healthcare, behavioral health, and community-based services.

This is one reason CAVSA continues to advocate for stronger coordination across systems. Veterans often experience better outcomes when services are connected rather than siloed.

You can learn more about national strategies through the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Why This Matters in California

California continues to face significant housing challenges, and older adults are one of the fastest-growing groups experiencing housing instability.

This trend directly impacts veterans.

Many veterans in California are aging while navigating complex and overlapping needs. Programs like VSSR represent a practical and humane approach, helping veterans remain stable before small challenges turn into larger crises.

Organizations like CAVSA and our member agencies play an important role by bringing together service providers, advocates, and agencies focused on improving outcomes for veterans statewide.

CAVSA’s Role in Supporting Programs Like VSSR

Programs like VSSR do not continue on their own. They require ongoing awareness, coordination, and advocacy to remain available to the veterans who rely on them.

CAVSA works alongside partners across California to elevate the importance of supportive housing programs and the services that make long-term stability possible. This includes supporting efforts to strengthen and sustain programs like VSSR so aging and high-needs veterans can continue receiving the care they need.

As California continues to address housing and healthcare challenges, ensuring that programs like VSSR remain part of the solution is critical to supporting veterans with dignity and stability.

Veterans deserve more than temporary solutions.

They deserve systems that support long-term health, housing stability, dignity, and independence.

The Veterans Support to Self-Reliance (VSSR) program represents a more complete approach to veteran care by recognizing the importance of both housing and ongoing support.

By connecting veterans with the services they need to remain stable, programs like VSSR help create stronger outcomes for individuals, communities, and California as a whole.

The funding for this program expires this year. CAVSA is asking the Governor and Legislature to extend the VSSR program at current funding levels so this valuable program serving aging veterans can continue.

To learn more and join us in support, explore CAVSA’s website regularly, as we continue to share additional resources. Feel free to Contact Us if you would like to join us in our support of veterans and the VSSR program.

You can also learn more about veteran advocacy and supportive services through organizations such as Swords to Plowshares.

For detailed information on the VSSR program see Beyond a Room and a Key here

Or click here for information on VSSR at CalVet