# Presentation: 925140

## Resources for Homeless Assistance

## Putting America to Work

- Department of Labor services are crucial components of any plan seeking to address the cycle of homelessness.
- DOL job training, placement and assistance programs, attuned to 21st century business and workforce demands, provide immediate assistance reinforced by deliberate preventative efforts.

- Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao

## Ending the cycle of Chronic Homelessness

- National Strategy
- Continued Development of Collaborative Initiatives
- Eliminating Chronic Homelessness
- Prevention
- Intervention
- Research
- Innovation based on Performance Outcomes
- Assessing available mainstream resources

## Labor’s Role

- To provide leadership and assistance to help states improve
- The productivity and economic prosperity of the workforce
- The competitiveness of America’s businesses and the strength of local communities through job training, employment, labor market information, and assistance programs

## Programs and Services addressing at-risk populations

- Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Project
- Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program
- Ready 4 Work
- Office of Disability Employment Policy
- Job Corps Foster Care Initiative
- Workforce Investment Act/One Stop Career Centers

## Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP)

- Purpose
- Stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems to assist homeless veterans in obtaining and retaining meaningful employment
- Enhance veterans’ employment opportunities by linking employment services with veteran-focused services, programs and organizations

- P.L. 107-95, Title 38, Ch 20, Sect. 2021

## HVRP Program Design

- Competitive Grants
- Awarded Annually
- Three Competitions: Urban, Non-Urban, New Grantees
- Measured Performance Outcomes
- Number of homeless veterans enrolled
- Percentage of enrolled who enter employment
- 6 month employment retention
- Wage at Placement

## Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program

- Competitive and Discretionary Grants
- Awarded to State Governors
- Two-Year Funding let in even years
- Priority Consideration
- Unique and Innovative Occupational Training or Research that leads to the employment of targeted groups of eligible veterans

- Collaboration

- Elimination

**Prevention**

**Intervention**

- Mainstream

**Innovation**

**Research**

- P.L. 105-220, Workforce Investment Act

## Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program

- Discretionary Grants and Pilots
- Targets veterans previously incarcerated and near-release, to reduce unemployment, recidivism and homelessness
- Six Demonstration Projects
- Partnership with DVA for referral and counseling services
- Provides assistance 18 months prior to release.
- Creates a comprehensive support matrix among partnering agencies

- Collaboration

- Elimination

- Prevention

- Intervention

- Mainstream

- Innovation

- Research

- Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001, Sec. 2020

## Ready 4 Work

- A Business, Faith, Community and Criminal Justice Partnership
- To employ and retain job-ready ex-offenders
- To reduce recidivism
- To Prevent Homelessness
- Leverage community resources to provide long-term care / mentoring
- Capture and share best practices concerning community partnerships

**Collaboration**

- Elimination

**Prevention**

**Intervention**

- Mainstream

**Innovation**

**Research**

## Ready 4 Work Program Chart

- FBO/CBO
- Mentoring
- Job Training
- Skill Development
- Support Services

**Criminal Justice**
- (Offender Referral)
- Correctional Institutions
- Corrections Officials
- Probation
- Parole
- Chaplains
- Community Supervision

**Businesses**
- (Occupational Groups)
- Culinary Skills
- Skilled Professionals
- Administrative/Clerical
- Laborer/Gen. Services
- Juvenile Employment
- Construction Trades

## Office of Disability Employment Policy

- Chronic Homelessness and Disability
- New Freedom Initiative Awards
- Validate Successful employment practices
- Build capacity within the workforce system to assist those with disabilities
- Develop and provide knowledge to recommend policy changes in labor programs and within the workplace at large

- Established January, 2001

## Planning for persons with disability

- Ensure Accessible facilities
- Assure the Availability of assistive devices
- Coordinate Discharge Planning
- Catalogue Best Practices and solicit grants to engage innovative ideas among other service providers

## One-Stop Career Centers 

- One-Stop Career Centers provide job seekers and employers local access to a broad array of services
- Customers can connect to federal, state, and local programs for job training, employment, labor market information, and supportive services
- Coordinated services are available to homeless persons

## One-Stop Career Centers 	

- Services include - but are not limited to –
- Job Search Assistance
- Labor Market Information
- Assessment
- Training
- Supportive Services
- Access to One Stop partner services, such as:
- Adult Basic Education
- Vocational Rehabilitation
- Work Opportunity and Welfare-to-Work Tax Credit Application Assistance

## One-Stop Service Options

- Internet – Through electronic tools
- Self-Service in a One-Stop center
- Core Services
- Intensive Services
- Training Services

## One-Stop Governance

- Business-led State and local Workforce Investment Boards oversee delivery system
- The Governor with the State WIB designates local workforce investment areas and allocates funds to local areas
- The local WIB charters at least one comprehensive One-Stop Career Center in its service area

## WIA Title I Funding

- Funds allotted to States on formula basis; States allocate to local areas on a formula basis
- 3 funding streams
- Adults
- Youth
- Dislocated Workers

## WIA Title I Funding

- Adults/Youth monies
- 85% to local areas
- 15% for statewide activities
- Dislocated Workers
- 20% reserved for Secretary of Labor
- Of remainder
- 60% to local areas
- 25% for statewide rapid response
- 15% for statewide activities
- Statewide 15% amounts may be merged to increase services to adults, youth, or dislocated workers

## Elements for Strategic Planning

- Link with state and local workforce investment boards
- Partner with One Stop Career Centers and related grants and programs within your state
- Educate homeless service providers on where and how to access public workforce investment system and related resources

## Additional Resources

- 1-877 US2-JOBS – provides up-to-date information about full range of workforce services for workers and businesses, as well as answers to employment and training questions
- 1-800-ADA WORK (232-9675) – Job Accommodation network (JAN) a toll-free and web-based resource for employers and employees or job candidates with disabilities that provides information on making workplace accommodations. www.wvu.jan.edu
- 1-866-EARN NOW  [1-866-327-6669]) Employer Assistance Referral Network, a national toll-free telephone and electronic service that provides employers with local resources that have candidates with disabilities to match the employer’s job openings.** **www.earnworks.com** **

## Online Resources

- http://www.dol.gov
- http://www.dol.gov/elaws/evets.htm
- http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/
- (A one stop web portal for disability related resources)
- http://www.doleta.gov/usworkforce/wia.asp
- http://www.careeronestop.org
- 	(contains links to America’s Job Bank, America’s Service Locator and America’s Career InfoNet)