DOL Announces Nearly $29 Million in Grants through the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 28, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (DOL-VETS) has announced the award of 121 grants, totaling nearly $29 million, to provide more than 14,000 veterans across the nation with job training, job placement, housing and other services. These grants were awarded through the agency’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP).

“Military service members and their families have been asked to make tremendous sacrifices for this nation. Although homelessness among veterans has fallen, too many of our heroes cannot find jobs or homes,” said acting Secretary of Labor Seth Harris. “These grants will provide those who have served our nation with the means to find meaningful civilian employment and chart new directions for their lives.”

The HVRP grants will help homeless veterans reintegrate into society and the labor force while providing effective services aimed at addressing the complex challenges that homeless veterans often confront. The services provided by grantees will include job placement, on-the-job training, career counseling, life skills and money management mentoring, as well as help in finding housing.

The 121 HVRP grants to assist homeless veterans total $28,722,299. The grants include:

• Twenty one-year awards with three option years, totaling $5,190,656;
• Eleven one-year awards with no option years, totaling $2,290,858;
• Sixty-seven second-year awards, totaling $15,857,643; and
• Twenty-three third-year awards, totaling $5,383,142.

DOL-VETS estimates the funding will help approximately 14,361 veterans. Option-year funding decisions are determined by factors such as available congressional appropriations and the performance of grantees. HVRP is the only federal program that focuses exclusively on employment of homeless veterans.

Funds were awarded on a competitive basis to state and local workforce investment boards, local public agencies and nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community organizations. These organizations are familiar with the areas and populations to be served and have demonstrated that they can administer effective programs to help veterans.

More information on the Department of Labor’s unemployment and re-employment programs for veterans can be found at www.dol.gov/vets. For more information on these HVRP grants, contact Cassandra Mitchell at 202-693-4570.

A list of HVRP grant awards can be accessed here.