Basic Needs
VIP connects clients and families with resources to support their basic physiological needs, including obtaining safe housing, food, and other necessities required for day-to-day functioning.
- File VCAP (relocation, stolen money, transportation expenses) for client/ caregiver
- Outline application process
- Assist in completion of application
- Provide guidance about and assist with supplemental application components (e.g., receipts)
- Ask questions of VCAP personnel on behalf of client/caregiver
- Submit physical copy of VCAP or provide necessary mailing items (envelope, stamps) to caregiver
- Follow-up on status of application and/or payment
- Assist family with procurement of clothing
- Place clothing request with local clothing provision organization
- Pick up and deliver clothing to family
- Provide family with emergency clothing
- Purchase school uniforms for family or assist family with uniform purchasing
- Assist family with procurement of food
- Provide family with information about local food resources
- Accompany family to food bank or pick up food at food bank and deliver to family
- Arrange food drop-off for family
- Provide groceries or grocery store gift card to family
- Assist family with procurement of furniture
- Provide family with information about local furniture resources
- Provide family with furniture from local organizations
- Arrange furniture pick-up/delivery with family
- Assist family with procurement of school supplies
- Discuss needs related to school supplies with family
- Provide client and/or family with school supplies
- Deliver school supplies
- Collaborate with external partners and/or resource fairs to meet school item needs
- Refer family to longer-term food resources
- Perform outreach to local food resources
- Provide family with resources for food assistance
- Assist caregiver in completing referral forms
- Assist family with SNAP application
- Assist family with procurement of holiday goods
- Discuss holiday-related needs with family
- Refer family to holiday good program
- Coordinate delivery of holiday gifts
- Drop off holiday gifts
- Refer client and/or family to a shelter
- Discuss potential move to shelter, including identifying family's specific needs and shelter requirements
- Contact local shelters relevant to client/family needs to determine availability
- Assist in altering school transportation for new location
- Attend shelter intake with family
- Assist family with housing
- Discuss housing related needs with caregiver
- Provide information about housing-related resources
- Contact housing organizations of behalf of family
- Communicate with landlord and/or organization about status of housing
- Refer family to housing program
- Apply for and/or provide funds for family’s moving-related costs
- Research potential housing options and funding for family
- Assist caregiver with completing housing application
- Assist family with moving belongings to new location
- Help caregiver navigate public housing system
- Refer family to emergency relocation services
- Assist family with utilities
- Discuss utility related needs with caregiver
- Refer family to utility assistance program
- Assist caregiver with completing utilities application
- Apply for and/or provide funds for family's emergency utility needs