Partnerships

Veteran Village of San Diego
Partnerships

Successful partnerships are built on trust, communication and shared vision. 

By working together, we can end veteran homelessness, restore hope, increase self-sufficiency and save lives.

RTFH

The Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) has a long history in San Diego that has evolved from an initial Mayor’s Task Force nearly forty years ago to the robust organization that it is today with an integrated array of stakeholders committed to preventing and alleviating homelessness in San Diego. We provide essential data and insights on the of homelessness, informing policy and driving system design and performance. 

Mission Statement: Reduce and end homelessness in San Diego, ensuring that if this situation does happen for anyone, it remains a rare, brief and non-recurring  instance; not an outcome. 

San Diego Continuum of Care (CoC)

The Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) is the San Diego Continuum of Care (CoC), designated by the the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The CoC program is designed to promote communitywide commitment for the goal of ending homelessness, provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, and state and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families and communities by homelessness; promote access to and affect utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Mission Statement: Promote safe, affordable housing opportunities and improved communities in the San Diego region. 

San Diego County

More than 200,000 veterans call San Diego County home, according to the U.S. Census. Hundreds if those veterans are living on the street. The County and partners came together to build on the work already being done to support those who served in the Armed Forces, to find a solution they hope will last generations.

Together they built a new county-wide plan designed to essentially end veteran homelessness by achieving “functional zero.” Functional zero is a term to describe veteran homelessness as rare, brief and non-recurring. At functional zero, every unhoused veteran has the opportunity and support to gain permanent housing. The plan will maximize resources and ensure the steps taken to meet our veterans’ housing needs align with the County’s core values of integrity, belonging, excellence, access, sustainability and equity. 

The County has worked with not-for-profits and other partners for years to identify housing solutions and supportive services for veterans living on the street and found success. But it is clear more needs to be done to achieve functional zero. Will you help honor their service? 

Cohen Veterans Network

The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinics provide confidential, high-quality therapy, and local referral support services to: post-9/11 veterans, service members*., National Guard and Reserves, and their family members, including spouse or partner, children, parents, siblings, caregivers and others. Care is available regardless of discharge status, role while uniform, or combat experience. Insurance or ability to pay will never be a barrier to care. *TRICARE referral needed for active duty. 

CAVSA

Roughly 1/3 of the nation’s homeless population is in California. The California Association of Veterans Service Agencies (CAVSA) is a consortium of six nonprofit veteran service providers working together to address the needs of California’s veterans. Members deliver direct services throughout the state – urban and rural communities stretching from Eureka to San Diego. 

This annual report contains up-to-date data on challenges that too many veterans face — homelessness, suicide, mental illness, substance abuse disorder, food insecurity and more. However, the story of this year is not solely about troubles; it is also about progress — the modernization of the behavioral health system through passage of the Behavioral Health Services Act and Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act; it is about triumph — the successes of veterans helped by our members and our state and local partners; it is about the future — CAVSA’s plan and advocacy agenda for 2024.

John Geiss, DDS Dental Clinic

In partnership with Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD), the San Diego County Dental Foundation created and operates an oral health clinic to serve San Diego veterans. Since opening in 2015, the John Geiss, DDS Dental Clinic has served hundreds of veterans and provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in pro bono oral healthcare.