Resources for Homeless Assistance

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• Resources for Homeless Assistance

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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
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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

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Labors Role

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

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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

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Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP)
P.L. 107-95, Title 38, Ch 20, Sect. 2021

• 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

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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

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

• 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
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Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program
Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of
2001, Sec. 2020

• 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
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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
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Ready 4 Work Program Chart
Criminal Justice (Offender Referral) Correctiona
l Institutions Corrections Officials Probation Par
ole Chaplains Community Supervision
Businesses (Occupational Groups) Culinary
Skills Skilled Professionals Administrative/Cleric
al Laborer/Gen. Services Juvenile
Employment Construction Trades
FBO/CBO Mentoring Job Training Skill
Development Support Services
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Office of Disability Employment Policy
Established January, 2001

• 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

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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

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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

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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

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One-Stop Service Options

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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
  employers job openings. www.earnworks.com

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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 Americas Job Bank, Americas
  Service Locator and Americas Career InfoNet)