TEN06-09acc.pdf

ETA Advisory File Text

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WASHINGTON D.C. 20210 NO. 6-09 TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT NOTICE DATE August 11 2009 TO STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES STATE WORKFORCE ADMINISTRATORS STATE WORKFORCE LIAISONS STATE AND LOCAL WORKFORCE BOARD CHAIRS AND DIRECTORS STATE LABOR COMMISSIONERS STATE UI DIRECTORS STATE APPRENTICESHIP DIRECTORS COMPREHENSIVE AND AFFILIATE ONE-STOP CAREER CENTER DIRECTORS SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM GRANTEES INDIAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAM GRANTEES MIGRANT SEASONAL FARMWORKER GRANTEES FROM JANE OATES s Assistant Secretary SUBJECT US Department of Housing and Urban Development and US Department of Labor Partnership 1. Purpose . The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Recovery Act wa s signed into law by President Barack Obama on February 17 2009. The Recovery Act is intended to preserve and create jobs promote the nation s economi c recovery and assist those most impacted by the recession. Under the Recovery Act Public Housing Agencies PHAs will receive funding to improve the energy efficiency of public housing units across the country. On May 26 th Secretary Shaun Donovan of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD and Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued a joint letter announcing the establishment of a pilot program to link public housing residents with their local Workforce Inve stment Board WIB and its One Stop Career System. This notice is intended t o alert the workforce investment system to the partnership between HUD and the Department of Labor DOL and to be prepared to work with representatives from lo cal Public Housing Agencies and connect public housing residents to One Stop Career Centers. 2. References . The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Pub. L. No. 111-5 1 23 Stat. 115 Division A Title VIII February 17 2009 . 2 Green Jobs Act of 2007 Pub. L. No. 110-140 121 Stat. 1748 codified a t 29 U.S.C. 2916 . Workforce Investment Act of 1998 Pub. L. No. 105-220 112 Stat. 939 c odified as amended at 29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq. 3. Background and Strategic Vision for Partnership between the Public H ousing Agencies and the Workforce Investment System under the Recovery Act . Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Recovery Act Public Housing Agencies PHAs will receive funding to improve the energy efficiency of public housing units across the country. As part of this initiative the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD and the U.S. Department of Labor DOL are establishing a pilot program to link public housing re sidents with their local Workforce Investment Board WIB and its One Stop Career System. The pilot will attempt to connect qualified PHA residents to training and jo bs in weatherization within their own communities facilities and ultimate ly to longer term weatherization and green collar work for these residents. The Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD is making 995 m illion of Recovery Act funding available to Public Housing Agencies PHAs to make capital improvements. In addition to providing a powerful stimulus to t he economy through job creation this funding has the potential of transforming the public housing program in a number of ways. First it will direct a significant amount of funding to address the needs of the elderly and persons with disabilities. Second it will provide a substantial amount of funding to transform distressed pub lic housing. Third it will provide gap financing to complete projects that have stalled because of funding shortages. Finally it will make a large investment 600 million in improving the energy efficiency and environmental performance of publ ic housing. All four areas of investment have the potential to create jobs for un- and underemployed workers with a particular interest in engaging job seekers who are residents of public housing. HUD is looking to the Workforce Investment system to provide career counseling and job training assistance to job seekers who can fill positions created by HUD s Recovery Act funding. HUD released its No tice of Funding Availability NOFA on June 1. A copy of the solicitation doc ument can be found at www.hud.gov recovery recovery-comp-grants.pdf . Grant applications will be received and processed on a rolling basis through August 18 200 9 with all funds obligated by September 30 2009. PHAs receiving funds will be req uired to commit these funds within 120 days and have been encouraged to engage th eir local Workforce Investment Boards as part of their implementation plan. HUD and DOL have jointly created the following set of Frequently Ask ed Questions to describe the public housing and workforce systems and to facilitate greater linkages between the two systems at the local level. Each Depar tment is sharing this set of questions and answers with its respective systems. 3 Frequently Asked Questions Question What is a Public Housing Agency PHA Answer Public housing agencies PHAs are funded by the federal government. They are local government entities generally created through state charters which have the authority to own public housing and operate rental assistance programs. The rental assistance can either be in the units owned by the PHA conventional public housing or as a tenant-based voucher used on the open rental market known as Section 8 or the Housing Choice Voucher HCV program . Question How did the Recovery Act affect public housing agencies Answer Under the Recovery Act each PHA that owns public housing received an extra formula-based allocation of capital funds. If the PHA accepted these recovery funds it is required to conduct capital improvements which should create jobs and contracting opportunities. Question How can I find a local PHA Answer To locate a public housing agency within your jurisdiction refer to http www.hud.gov offices pih pha contacts Question What is the public workforce system Answer The public workforce system is made up of the U.S. Department of Labor State Workforce Agencies State Workforce Investment Boards Local Workforce Investment Boards One Stop Career Centers and local service providers. Question What is a Workforce Investment Board WIB Answer Both state and local Workforce Investment Boards WIBs generally include representatives from local industries educational institutions and training providers community organizations public and private economic development professionals and state county or local public officials. WIBs support economic development strategies education and labor market analysis with the goal of providing a well-trained workforce to meet economic growth. Question What kind of training can workers get from a WIB Answer Workforce Investment Boards are not training providers but identify and link training providers schools non-profit groups apprenticeship programs and more with the workforce system. 4 Question What is a One Stop Career Center and what services does it provide Answer One Stop Career Centers provide job seekers with career counseling job training continuing education and social services support. They also provide employers with labor exchange support matching job openings with qualified candidates. Question How do I find the nearest One Stop Career Center Answer www.servicelocator.org or call 1-877-US2-JOBS 1-877-872-5627 . Question Who is eligible to receive services from a One Stop Career Center Answer All job seekers needing assistance with additional training career counseling and or identifying job opportunities are eligible for services. Job seekers do not have to be currently unemployed or underemployed to receive services from One Stop Career Centers. State and local areas are responsible for establishing criteria for job seekers to receive special services or additional support. Question Do One Stop Career Centers serve employers as well Answer Of course One Stop Career Centers provide assistance to employers by posting job openings and providing a pool of possible recruits to employers. PHAs and their contractors are encouraged to post job openings to the local One Stop Career Center job opportunity database. Question What training and education support is available through these centers Answer Qualified job seekers may receive stipends or other forms of assistance in securing training toward upgrading job skills or obtaining basic skills necessary to enter the workforce. Generally job training for qualified individuals is arranged through approved training providers in the community including community colleges vocational institutions labor unions non-profit institutions and apprenticeship programs. Question How may PHAs and WIBs collaborate Answer Start by identifying the appropriate staff within the PHA WIB and describe current operations in both entities 1. Discuss existing overlaps in clients residents 2. Identify training needs associated with the PHA s capital plans and 3. Identify available WIB training. 5 Question Can you give me some examples of collaborative activities that would facilitate partnership Answer Each city or local area will generate unique opportunities specific to i ts workforce housing stock climate and economy. Here are just a few examples of green activities that PHAs and WIBs could conduct together Explore whether job-readiness training is available to public housing residents. Make sure the training is accessible. Research available construction-related training or apprenticeships. Post PHA capital fund and or Recovery Act contractor position openings through the One Stop Career Center. Market existing training opportunities together. One way is a joint WIB and PHA flyer on available trainings distributed to residents with follow-up meetings and outreach. WIBs can also perform onsite outreach at public housing developments either by holding group meetings or working directly with residents. The One Stop Career Center could share its intake form screening guidelines with the PHA. This would help the PHA Service Coordinator conduct screening at the PHA and make appropriate referrals. Question How can PHA Service Coordinators help with job placement Answer PHA Service Coordinators could help most by identifying employment challenges or barriers faced by the residents of public housing. The Coordinator could then help public housing residents overcome barriers to work by involving partners in the community who can help provide work supports to enable PHA residents to be successful. Partners may include community colleges that can as sist with adult basic education and GED preparation vocational trade schools transportation and child care providers credit unions that provide financial literacy classes churches or non-profit organizations that could provide work-appropriate clothing or counseling etc. Question What should PHAs do to advertise potential job openings Answer You or your contractor may post job announcements through your One Stop Career Center free of charge helping you locate and hire workers quickly. Utilizing the public workforce system does not limit you from other hiring activities. To locate the public workforce system job banks near your PHA visit http www.jobbankinfo.org 6 In addition One Stop Career Center specialists can help employers by Pre-screening candidates conducting skill assessments and referring job-ready candidates Providing assistance in organizing job fairs and specialized recruitment efforts this may be especially helpful in recruiting residents of your public housing system for weatherization training and employment. Visit http www.doleta.gov business SolutionsToBuild.cfm for more information. Question What are the procedures for posting job announcements through my One Stop Career Center Answer Contact your local One Stop and identify yourself as an employer. Tell them why you are calling and ask to be referred to the person who can best handle your request that might be the One Stop manager or a Business Service Representative which many One Stops have. To locate One Stop Career Centers visit http www.servicelocator.org or call 1-877-US2-JOBS or 1-877-889- 5627 TTY . To use on-line services to post job openings see http careeronestop.org Audience Businesses Businesses.aspx Question For PHAs and our contractors is there any advantage in using the One Stop Career Center to post jobs I ve never had any trouble finding workers before. Answer There are other advantages for contractors in posting PHA-related job openings on One Stop Career Center job banks. Posting open jobs helps grantees and contractors meet the expectations of transparency set by the Obama Administration in its allocation of Recovery Act funding Facilitates the ability to count and document the jobs being created by Recovery Act-funded projects Provides a strategy for meeting Section 3 hiring requirements and Fulfills contractors job listing requirements as outlined by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. In addition the public workforce system can help navigate other general employment regulations for Federal contractors such as ensuring that all individuals have an equal opportunity for employment. 7 Question Is there federal financial assistance for PHA WIB collaborations Answer There are no specific funds or set-asides for PHA WIB collaborations. Separately both HUD and DOL have distributed significant Recovery funding to states and local entities through their normal structures. The recovery process requires an effective use of these funds including collaborations across many disciplines and agencies that both serve America s most vulnerable populations and leverage funds to avoid waste. HUD awarded 3 billion in formula awards to PHAs for capital fund improvements with deadlines to commit funds. An additional 1 billion is available competitively for capital work. DOL has distributed nearly 4 billion in formula funds to states for workforce investments and unemployment benefits. Through the Recovery Act there is an additional competitive DOL grant program that distributes up to 500 million for green job training. Question How does the Recovery Act help PHA residents find jobs and or secure training Answer The Recovery Act serves a twofold purpose 1 to preserve and create jobs and 2 to help workers gain new skills. To prioritize training and support services funded through the Act the legislation identified eligible target populations Workers impacted by national energy and environmental policy Individuals in need of updated training related to the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries Veterans or past or current members of the reserves Unemployed individuals Individuals including at-risk youth seeking employment pathways out of poverty into economic self-sufficiency and Formerly incarcerated adjudicated non-violent offenders. Question What is a green job Answer There is no single definition of a green job. According to the Green Jobs Act green jobs encompass any workplace activity that involves energy efficiency or renewable energy manufacturing installation and maintenance building retrofits to improve energy use as well as energy assessments deconstruction and materials re-use and manufacturing of sustainable products using sustainable processes. The White House Middle Class Task Force has suggested that green jobs share three general characteristics 8 Green jobs involve some task associated with improving the environment including reducing carbon emissions and creating and or using energy more efficiently Green jobs should be good jobs that provide a sustainable family wage health and retirement benefits and decent working conditions Green jobs should be available to diverse workers from across the spectrum of race gender and ethnicity. Question What support services are available to PHAs from the workforce system Department of Labor Answer One Stop Career Centers offer a full range of services to both PHA managers and residents Workers who have been laid off may apply for unemployment benefits through their One Stop Career Centers. Social services support for qualified job seekers such as payments for child or dependent care housing education or training programs assistance for transportation to secure training or reach a job site help in obtaining an assistive device or service to enable people with disabilities to perform their jobs and other forms of support may be available to job seekers through their local One Stop Career Center. One Stop Career Centers also connect workers to emergency and other social services offered in their communities including food shelter clothing and mental health services. Question How much does career counseling and training cost Does the job seeker have to pay for this Answer All One Stop Career Center Core services are free to job seekers including career search and placement assistance and administrative assistance to secure social services support or educational training funds. One Stop Career Centers also offer two more comprehensive levels of services free of charge to recipients of public assistance and other low - income individuals where funds are limited Intensive services - Includes more comprehensive assessments development of individual employment plans and counseling and career planning and Training services Both occupational training and training in basic skills are covered. Participants use an individual training account to select an appropriate training program from a qualified training provider. 9 Question Are there any special requirements to receive assistance Answer Any job seeker may receive assistance in job searches and resume writing. To receive unemployment benefits the individual must meet the requirements set by the state in which he she resides. Generally If you were part of a large layoff or plant closing s he may be eligible for job search and training services through the state s Dislocated Worker Rapid Response program. The Senior Community Service Employment Program SCSEP provides training and job opportunities for low income persons age 55 and older. The National Farmworker Jobs Program provides job training and employment assistance for migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Indian and Native American Programs provide employment and training services to Native American communities. Eligibility for other types of service is set by each state. Veterans youth persons with disabilities dislocated workers and other populations may all receive services through their One Stop Career Center depending on eligibility. Question What Federal regulations and rules apply to this program Answer Davis-Bacon Act Labor The Department of Labor has issued All Agency Memorandum AAM No. 207 that provides important guidance regarding application of the Davis-Bacon Act to construction projects funded under ARRA. The AAM can be located at http www.dol.gov esa whd recovery AAM207.pdf For more information on the applicability of Davis-Bacon to the Capital Fund ARRA Competition please see the Notice of Funding Availability http www.hud.gov offices pih programs ph capfund ocir.cfm . Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 HUD has issued guidance for Section 3 and Recovery Act funding at http www.hud.gov recovery. Question Where can I find more information on HUD s Section 3 and reporting requirements Answer Section 3 ensures that employment training and contracting opportunities created as a result of the expenditure of certain HUD funding are directed to low- and very low-income residents of the community where the funds are spent particularly those living in assisted housing and the businesses that substantially employ these persons. To learn more about the requirements of Section 3 visit www.hud.gov section3 . 10 Question Besides this HUD-DOL partnership are there other employment and training programs available to residents of public housing Answer Residents of public housing may qualify for additional government services because of employment status income or because they are a member of a target population under the Green Jobs Act the Workforce Investment Act WIA or other Federal and state law. Labor unions community- or faith-based organizations the city or county philanthropic foundations individual employers or other non-federal entities may provide additional employment and training programs to residents of public housing. Question Is child care available to allow job-seekers to attend training and subsequently accept employment Answer Each state and locality establishes eligibility standards for support services for job seekers. If public funding is not available in your ar ea to cover child care expenses the One Stop Career Center may be able to connect the residents with additional resources from the community to help cover this expense. Another option is TANF Temporary Assistance for Needy Families . Each state establishes its requirements but generally assists clients with the following Cash assistance to help pay for basic needs. Employment training and job placement. Vocational Training and Education Clients may get reimbursement for vocational training and educational expenses but not for tuition. Employment-Related Expense Clients may receive assistance to help pay the cost for certain personal items necessary to accept a job offer or to retain employment. Transportation Clients may receive transportation reimbursement if they are enrolled in a training or education program or if they are working. Child care. In most states PHA residents may be eligible to receive a monthly cash benefit to help cover ongoing basic family needs. The amount of the benefit is typically based on family size and amount of other income including other public assistance payments. 11 Question Many of my residents have a disability are support services available to accommodate their employment Answer Each state and locality establishes eligibility for support services for job seekers including assessment and employment support for people with disabilities. The One Stop Career Center should be an access point for all these services and programs and may also be able to connect them with additional resources from the community to help accommodate their employment needs. Question English is the second language of many of my residents is English language education available Answer Each state establishes eligibility criteria for language and basic skill s education and training assistance for qualified job seekers. If an individual qualifies as low-income or receives public assistance he she may qualify for language training assistance. Question Some of my residents are older workers can they participate in this program Answer All PHAs and One Stops are encouraged to collaborate. In collaboration outreach will be conducted regardless of age sex race ethnicity religion or sexual orientation. The Senior Community Service Employment Program SCSEP is a community service and work based training program for older workers providing subsidized part-time community service work based training for low-income persons age 55 or older who have poor employment prospects. See http www.doleta.gov Seniors . Older workers who are not low-income may still receive core employment assistance services through their One Stop Career Center as can any job seeker. Question Some of my residents were previously convicted of a crime are they eligible to work under this program Answer Persons who were previously incarcerated because of non-violent offenses are eligible for employment services from your local One Stop Career Center. 4. Action Requested . States are encouraged to share this notice broadly with local WIBs and other stakeholders. 5. Inquires . Notice of all Federal solicitations is posted in the Federal Register and at www.grants.gov and DOL-specific information is also available on our Web site at www.doleta.gov grants . Additional information on funding available through the 12 Recovery Act is on the Web at www.doleta.gov recovery . Information on the workforce investment system and its locations nationwide is available at www.careeronestop.org .