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VETS News Release: [06/30/2003]
Contact Name: Elissa Pruett
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676

Labor Secretary Chao Announces Grants to Aid Homeless Veterans

Grants Totaling $17.5 Million Will Help Homeless Veterans Find Employment

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao was joined today by U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi to announce $17.5 million in grants to train and employ homeless veterans for good jobs. The grants were awarded under the Department of Labor’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP).

Ten million dollars were awarded to new grantees in 18 states, and $7.5 million is second year funding for current program grantees. The Secretaries were joined at the event by Dexter Daniels, a graduate of the Maryland Center for Veterans Employment and Training’s HVRP in Baltimore, Md. Daniels now works for Marriott in Baltimore as the services manager.

“Through the department's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, almost 10,000 American vets across 18 states will receive $17.5 million in grants to provide occupational training, remedial education, placement assistance and other key services—whatever it takes to help these heroes get back on their feet again,” said Chao. “President George W. Bush and this Administration are dedicated to making sure that no veteran is left behind.”

HVRP expedites the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force. The grants provide homeless veterans with occupational training, job search, and placement assistance. The Department of Labor’s Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) expects that more than 5,000 homeless veterans will enter employment as a result of these grants.

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, which have familiarity with the area and population to be served and can administer an effective program. HVRP has been recognized as an extraordinarily efficient program and is the only federal program that focuses exclusively on employment of veterans who are homeless.

• Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program - New Funding in 2003
• Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program - Second Year Funding in 2003

For more information on the Department of Labor's unemployment and re-employment programs please go to www.dol.gov.

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