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VETS News Release: [09/28/2005]
Contact Name: Dirk Fillpot or Mike Biddle
Phone Number: 202-693-4676 or x5051
Release Number: 05-1824-NAT

U.S. Labor Secretary Announces Grant to Help Louisiana Homeless Veterans Find Jobs in Areas Hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

WASHINGTON—Homeless veterans in Louisiana areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina and Rita will receive help in finding employment through a $99,000 grant announced today by U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

“Homeless vets face special challenges in rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of the two hurricanes,” said Secretary Chao. “This grant will help homeless veterans in several Louisiana parishes affected by Katrina and Rita access the job training and placement services they need to find work and build a better life.”

Administered by the Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service, the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) grant has been awarded to Quad Area Community Action Agency Inc., of Hammond, La., for the period from Sept. 30, 2005 through June 30, 2006. It will enroll over 150 homeless veterans from the rural and poverty-stricken parishes between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, including Ascension, Livingston, St. Helena, West Feliciania, East Feliciania, Tangipahoa and Washington.

This is the latest in a series of grants administered under HVRP, which is the only federal program that focuses exclusively on employment of veterans who are homeless. The program has been recognized as an extraordinarily efficient program with a better than 60 percent job placement rate.

Most recently in June, the Veterans' Employment and Training Service awarded 78 grants totaling $18.7 million to provide training to 15,000 homeless veterans in 32 states.

The grants provide homeless veterans with occupational, classroom and on-the-job training, job search and job placement assistance, including crucial follow-up assistance. Grantees also network and coordinate their efforts with various other local, state and federal social-service providers.

More information on HVRP grants can be found at www.dol.gov.

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