We want veterans and their families to know they are not alone. Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) is here to help veterans who are homeless or worried about losing their housing.
SSVF is Goodwill’s program for veterans and their families. We support veterans who are homeless or at risk of losing their housing. Our goal is simple: help veterans find and keep safe, stable housing.
Many situations can lead someone to reach out for help. You may have received an eviction notice. You may be behind on rent and worried about losing your home. You might be staying with friends or family who can no longer house you. Some veterans leave the justice system without a place to stay. Others may be living in a shelter, on the street, or in their vehicle.
Some veterans have a place to sleep, but it is not safe. No matter the situation, SSVF may be able to help.
How SSVF Can Help
When you join SSVF, you are assigned to a case manager. Your case manager works with you one‑on‑one to create a plan for housing.
SSVF can help you gather documents needed to apply for an apartment, such as an ID or driver’s license. If you have poor credit, no credit, or missing income paperwork, we can still help.
SSVF can also help with housing costs, including apartment application fees, move-in costs and security deposits, and short-term rental assistance. This support helps cover the gap while you work toward long-term stability. That is usually a housing voucher, which is assistance that comes from government funding.
More Than Housing Help
SSVF support goes beyond rent. We may be able to help with vehicle repairs, childcare costs, and movein kits that include a bed, furniture, kitchen items, and cleaning supplies.
We also offer referrals to other services including legal help and Social Security and disability benefits through Goodwill’s SSI/SSDI Outreach Access Recovery (SOAR) team. We also have staff that can connect you to healthcare resources and help you understand your health coverage. And we have staff that can help you understand how to budget and save money, and how to better your credit score. Our goal is to help you build stability in every part of your life.
How to Get Started
Getting help starts with a phone call. Our outreach hotline – 509-828-2449 – is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A real person answers the phone during business hours. If all staff are busy, you can leave a message and expect a call back within 24 hours.
To join SSVF, you must be a veteran, have a low income, or be homeless or at risk of losing your housing.
If you do not have all documents right away, that’s okay. We can still schedule an appointment and help you gather what is needed. Our goal is to meet with you within a few days, enroll you in the program, and start working on next steps toward housing.
Questions About Discharge Status?
SSVF cannot enroll veterans with a dishonorable discharge. However, discharge status can be confusing. If you are not sure about your status, we can help you look into it.
Even if someone is not eligible for SSVF, we encourage them to reach out. We can connect veterans to other resources and provide information about the process to request a discharge upgrade. You do not have to figure this out alone.
You Earned This Support
Many veterans feel unsure about asking for help. Some feel they are not deserving or worry they might take help from someone else. We want veterans to know that they earned this support through their service.
Getting help supports you, your family, and your future. If you are unsure whether you qualify, what help might look like, or where to begin, we encourage you to reach out. We are here, we are available, and we are ready to talk through your options.