Beverly Walker, Commissioner
Mary Dean Harvey, Division Director
Georgia Department of Human Resources · Division of Family and Children Services · Social Services Section Family Violence Program ·Two Peachtree Street NW · Suite 18-454 ·Atlanta, GA 30303-3180 · (404) 657-3413 · FAX (404) 463-0192
Memorandum
TO: Family Violence Agencies
SUBJECT: DFCS/DCA Steps to Success Program
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program for the Shelter Clients
We are now accepting applications for the Steps to Success Section 8 Housing Voucher Program. This program is a collaboration effort with the DFCS Family Violence Unit, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, and certified Family Violence Shelters in Georgia to provide housing and supportive services for family violence victims and their children. This program is exclusively available to family violence victims and their children who are sponsored by and agree to work with a certified family violence shelter during and after placement with the program. It is very important to the success and continuation of the program that clients are carefully screened and only clients who are seriously committed to becoming self-sufficient be referred. We currently have 60 vouchers available for distribution in the program.
- We have attached various documents to explain the program; the guidelines, strategic plan, selection priority criteria, and client selection checklist.
- We have also attached some data collection forms to keep in your client files; case notes and contact sheets.
- A map of the regional DCA offices.
- The referral package that contains all of the forms that needs to be submitted for each client. (Note, if you have already completed the "old" set of forms, you do not need to re-do them, just be sure that you submit all pieces.)
- And a status update form which should be filled out and sent in to the FVU quarterly for each client that your agencysupports in theprogram.
In order for the client's Steps to Success Section 8 referral packet to continue on to the Department of Community Affairs office, all information submitted to us must be original documents. Please do not fax any part of the packet, instead hold your packet of information until you have gathered ALL pieces and then MAIL the complete packet to our office. We are unable to accept faxed copies and cannot submit the referral to DCA until we have all pieces. The vouchers are on a first come, first serve basis.
Please take a moment and review the following attachments and if you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call.
STEPS TO SUCCESS
Section 8 Program for Victims of Family Violence & their Children
Georgia DCA, DFCS Family Violence Unit, & State Certified Family Violence Shelters
Coversheet/Checklist
CLIENT NAME: ______
AGENCY NAME: ______
ADVOCATE: ______
Referral Form
Referral/Participant Responsibilities
Case Plan
Please MAIL your completed STEPS to SUCCESS referral package including ALL of the above items to:
DHR Family Violence Unit
2 Peachtree Street N.W.
Suite 18-455
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
If you have any questions, please contact your Family Violence Unit consultant.
Date received by DHR FVU: ______(to be filled out by DHR)
Date submitted to DFCS/DCA Liaison ______(to be filled out by DHR)
STEPS TO SUCCESS
Section 8 Program for Victims of Family Violence & their Children
Georgia DCA, DFCS Family Violence Unit, & State Certified Family Violence Shelters
Referral Form
Date of Referral Submission: ______
This letter shall serve as official certification for the Direct Referral Program for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. The following client, ______, (Client Name) is being referred for application for the tenant-based Section 8 Voucher by the Department of Family and Children Services.
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) will be assisting with housing rental assistance for this client if approval of the application is granted. Necessary support services will be offered by DHR Certified Family Violence Agency ______(Agency Name) to ensure that the client has the best opportunity for successful outcomes in the community placement through the voucher program.
This client has been screened, selected and referred by the County Department and is hereby being presented for participation with the DCA Housing Choice Voucher Program within the county of
______(County of residence).
Applicants Full Name ______
Applicant’s Social Security Number: ______Number in Household: ______
Mailing Address: ______
City/State/Zip Code: ______Phone: ______
Family Violence Agency Contact Name: ______
Family Violence Agency Contact Address: ______
Family Violence Agency City/State/Zip: ______Phone: ______
The signature below indicates agreement and understanding of terms and expectations set forth in this DFCS letter of referral for the DCA Housing Choice Voucher Program. Based upon this letter of certification, the applicant is formally requesting a Housing Choice Voucher application only for the number of household members listed above.
Signature of Client Requesting DCA Application: ______
STEPS TO SUCCESS
Section 8 Program for Victims of Family Violence & their Children
Georgia DCA, DFCS Family Violence Unit, & State Certified Family Violence Shelters
Referral/Participant Program Responsibilities
Because I have been referred by a Department of Human Resources (DHR) Certified Family Violence Agency, I understand that I have been approved for a special use Housing Choice Voucher. Further, I understand I have certain responsibilities and expectations to maintain my eligibility for this voucher. I also understand that I must comply with all standard Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Rental Assistance requirements in order to retain my special housing subsidy.
In addition, I agree to meet case plan and supportive service expectations. I will participate fully in all planning activities to identify a range of activities and supportive services that will facilitate my continued progress and enable me to maintain my housing unit. I will regularly engage in the identified array of services that will help me to have a meaningful life in the community.
My signature indicates that I have read, have full understanding of and agree to the expectations provided above.
Participant signature: ______
Date: ______
As a Department of Human Resources Certified Family Violence Agency, we agree to provide supportive services through a case plan developed in collaboration with the above referenced individual. We will maintain regular contact with the participant and will continue to provide the level of service and supports identified to meet his/her needs to enable the individual to continue successful community-based living within his/her chosen community. The DHR Certified Family Violence Agency representative will accompany the program participant to the initial housing voucher briefing, and upon advanced written request(s) by DCA, other scheduled appointments. DCA may terminate assistance if my agency does not provide the support services as indicated in the case plan for this individual.
My signature indicates that I have read, have full understanding of, and commit our agency to provide the necessary support services to this participant.
DHR Certified Family Violence Agency ______
Agency Representative Signature ______
Date ______
STEPS TO SUCCESS
Section 8 Program for Victims of Family Violence & their Children
Georgia DCA, DFCS Family Violence Unit, & State Certified Family Violence Shelters
Case Plan
sHORT TERM GOALS
gOAL ______
PROJECTED START DATE ______PROJECTED END DATE ______
ACTUAL START DATE ______ACTUAL END DATE ______
CLIENT WILL: ______
ADVOCATE WILL: ______
gOAL ______
PROJECTED START DATE ______PROJECTED END DATE ______
ACTUAL START DATE ______ACTUAL END DATE ______
CLIENT WILL: ______
ADVOCATE WILL: ______
gOAL ______
PROJECTED START DATE ______PROJECTED END DATE ______
ACTUAL START DATE ______ACTUAL END DATE ______
CLIENT WILL: ______
ADVOCATE WILL: ______
STEPS TO SUCCESS
Section 8 Program for Victims of Family Violence & their Children
Georgia DCA, DFCS Family Violence Unit, & State Certified Family Violence Shelters
Case Plan
LONG TERM GOALS
gOAL ______
PROJECTED START DATE ______PROJECTED END DATE ______
ACTUAL START DATE ______ACTUAL END DATE ______
CLIENT WILL: ______
ADVOCATE WILL: ______
gOAL ______
PROJECTED START DATE ______PROJECTED END DATE ______
ACTUAL START DATE ______ACTUAL END DATE ______
CLIENT WILL: ______
ADVOCATE WILL: ______
gOAL ______
PROJECTED START DATE ______PROJECTED END DATE ______
ACTUAL START DATE ______ACTUAL END DATE ______
CLIENT WILL: ______
ADVOCATE WILL: ______
STEPS TO SUCCESS
Section 8 Program for Victims of Family Violence & their Children
Georgia DCA, DFCS Family Violence Unit, & State Certified Family Violence Shelters
Case Plan
REFFERALS
Agency______DATE: ______
RESULTS:______
______
Agency______DATE: ______
RESULTS:______
______
Agency______DATE: ______
RESULTS:______
______
Agency______DATE: ______
RESULTS:______
______
STEPS TO SUCCESS
Section 8 Program for Victims of Family Violence & their Children
Georgia DCA, DFCS Family Violence Unit, & State Certified Family Violence Shelters
Case Plan
FOLLOW-UP
SCHEDULED CONTACT BETWEEN CLIENT AND ADVOCATE:
· TELEPHONE CONTACT EVERY _____ DAYS/WEEKS/MONTHS (INITIATED BY ADVOCATE/CLIENT)
· IN-HOME CONTACT EVERY ______DAYS/WEEKS/MONTHS (INITIATED BY ADVOCATE/CLIENT)
· AGENCY GROUPS EVERY ______DAYS/WEEKS MONTHS (INITIATED BY ADVOCATE/CLIENT)
______
CLIENT SIGNATURE ADVOCATE SIGNATURE
______
DATE DATE