Alfred C. Sims, Msc. Cpp Email & Phone Number

SOLANO COUNTY – County officials are pleased to announce that Alfred Sims will be joining the County’s management team as the new Director of the Solano County Veteran Service Office (VSO). Starting Monday, March 28, he will assume leadership over the department responsible for helping veterans and their dependents gain access to the benefits and services they have earned as part of their military service career. Mr. Sims joins the County with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in Federal and County Veteran Service Office programs. Mr. Sims will be responsible for overseeing a staff of Veteran Benefit Representatives and providing strategic direction and oversight to the department’s operations, including its budget. Additionally, the new VSO will oversee the department’s comprehensive benefit, counseling and claims preparation process, which includes public outreach to veterans and their dependents, and the maintenance of mutually beneficial working relationships with the US Department of Veteran Affairs, the California Department of Veteran Affairs and Travis Air Force Base. Before joining Solano County, Mr. Sims was the Veteran Service Officer for the City and County of San Francisco where he oversaw a staff of Benefit Claims Representatives, developed and implemented procedural policies, and the benefits claim process. He is a Certified Veterans Claim Representative and a veteran of the U.S. Military Service.

United States

Al Sims joins the San Francisco County Veterans Services Office with over twenty years of experience inmanagement and veterans services. In the role of County Veterans Services Officer, Al will be responsible for the oversight of the office. Al will be responsible for the outreach strategies within the CVSO to connect with vulnerable veterans; supporting them in benefits claims to increase access to VA mental and primary healthcare, monetary benefits, and housing assistance. Al is a visionary leader and change agent with a focus on innovatively developing and growing programs with a client-driven, strengths based, harm reduction approach to enhance the highest quality of services for veterans. He’s an experienced manager with expertise in community outreach, education, and veterans’ advocacy. Al brings over 20 years’ experience in management and veterans services. In the past six years Al has worked in organizations supporting veterans and providing critical stabilization services to these populations with a primary focus on homeless veterans and veterans with complex health and mental health challenges. Prior to joining the Department of Disability and Aging Services, Al worked at the Department of Veterans Affairs as a Transition Patient Advocate, engaging in work across the agency to encompass all the medical centers throughout the Western region of the United States. Al is an Army combat veteran who served in the 2nd Armored Calvary Regiment during operations Desert Shield / Desert Storm. After the Army, Al worked as an expat in Germany for 5 years before returning to the Bay Area. In 2014 Al started his career in veteran services with the VA HUD-VASH team in Oakland. Al was promoted to Program Specialist with HUD-VASH before promoting to Transition Patient Advocate for the VA NorCal. Al holds a Master’s degree in Security Management from Buckinghamshire New University in the United Kingdom and holds several certifications within the security services realm.

Mather, Ca

As Transition Patient Advocate for the Veteran Affairs Northern California Health Care System I act as a communicator, facilitator, and problem solver for patients entering or receiving care within the Veteran Affairs Northern California Health Care System. My activities cross all lines of authority and responsibility and encompass all medical centers, services within a medical center and throughout the VISN. I organize and attend community events. I serve as an advocate to assist transitioning post 9/11 SM/Vs and their families. As many of these Veterans suffer from multiple complex health and mental health problems, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), amputations, burns, and combat stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I am committed to ensuring severely injured service members and Veterans have a personal advocate as they move through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system.

Livermore, Ca

As a Program Specialist for the HUD-VASH Program, I play a key role in the VA's continuum of homeless services, by working closely with the HUD-VASH team and coordinating the development of housing resources throughout our area. I work with VA Health Care System multi-disciplinary teams and community agencies to strive for developing more effective and efficient ways of delivering housing services to HUD-VASH Program Veterans. I Consulted architects, facility planners and homeless program leadership to identify and develop Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) program. I serve as a liaison to the VA Medical Center (VAMC), Public Housing Authorities (PHA's), landlords and landlord associations, and agencies and corporations devoted to the development of affordable housing. In this liaison role, I meet frequently with PHA staff to address challenges in coordination and planning. I educate PHA’s regarding VA performance measures and necessary time frames. I am a integral part of the HUD-VASH team. I am responsible for coordinating and identifying existing housing in the community and maintaining an inventory database of safe, available units. I help identify and develop housing criteria, identify potential barriers to securing desired housing, and helps develop strategies to overcome these barriers. I review housing placement progress and provides direct assistance to Veterans regarding housing-related issues. I am responsible for reviewing the agreements between Section 8 landlords, Public Housing Authorities (PHA’s), and the VA to establish appropriate referral sites for placements. I reach out to prospective landlords and property management groups on behalf of Veterans in the HUD-VASH program. This includes educating individuals and organizations on the benefit of leasing to HUD-VASH Veterans, and the role of the VA case manager in helping to promote housing stability for program participants.