U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez announced grants totaling $36,710,368 awarded to 156 organizations nationwide to provide more than 12,000 veterans with training to help them succeed in civilian careers. The grants are being awarded under the department’s Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program, administered by the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service.
For a complete listing of all grantees by state, please visit:
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/vets/VETS20141224.htm
“These job training programs will provide the skills that veterans require to find and keep a job and secure housing,” said Secretary Perez. “The progress made in recent years to reduce veterans’ homelessness is encouraging, but it remains our moral duty to do all we can to honor our veterans with the dignity of a good job and opportunities to build a solid middle-class life for their families.”
The Job-Training Grants announced today include $9,094,355 in funding for 37 new grantees to provide job-driven training, in which they will actively engage with employer partners to identify the skills needed for in-demand jobs and careers. They will also provide job placement, career counseling, life skills and money management mentoring, as well as help in finding housing. VETS estimates that these new funds will help approximately 3,000 veterans.
Funds are awarded on a competitive basis to state and local workforce investment boards, local public agencies and nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community organizations. Notably, this year’s new grantees also include one tribal organization, Idaho’s Nez Perce Tribe. These grantees are familiar with the areas and populations to be served and have demonstrated that they can administer effective programs to help homeless veterans.
More information on the Department of Labor’s unemployment and re-employment programs for veterans is available at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets. For additional information on these grants, contact Cassandra Mitchell at 202-693-4570.
The Veterans Administration (VA) also offers help. The VA says it is committed to ending Veteran homelessness by the end of 2015, asserting “No one who has served our country should ever go without a safe, stable place to call home.”
The entire department has put its energy and resources into ending Veteran homelessness. VA’s programs provide individualized, comprehensive care to Veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
The VA partners with other groups to increase effectiveness. Organizations and individuals in communities across the country are integral to providing services to Veterans and spreading the word about the resources VA provides to end and prevent homelessness among Veterans.
Explore va.gov/homeless to learn about VA’s programs for Veterans and to find out what you, your neighbors, and your community can do to help Veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.
If you know of a Veteran who is homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless, call 877-4AID-VET (424-3838) to be connected 24/7 with VA’s services to overcome or prevent homelessness.
From a VETS News Release, with additional content from VA.gov