U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Improving Access to Mainstream Services for People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness, Westin Peachtree, Atlanta Georgia, January 29-31, 2003

 

Slide 1:

U.S. Department of Labor

Resources for Homeless Assistance

Slide 2:

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.

Slide 3:

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

Slide 4:

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

Slide 5:

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

Slide 6:

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

    (Reference: P.L. 107-95, Title 38, Ch 20, Sect. 2021)

Slide 7:

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

Slide 8:

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

    (Reference: P.L. 105-220, Workforce Investment Act)

Slide 9:

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

    (Reference: Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001, Sec. 2020)

Slide 10:

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

Slide 11:

Ready 4 Work Program Chart

Criminal Justice
(Offender Referral)

Correctional Institutions
Corrections Officials
Probation
Parole
Chaplains
Community Supervision
Arrow pointing to the right and the left.
FBO/CBO
Mentoring
Job Training
Skill Development
Support Services
Arrow pointing to the right and the left.
Businesses
(Occupational Groups)


Culinary Skills
Skilled Professionals
Administrative/Clerical
Laborer/Gen. Services
Juvenile Employment
Construction Trades

Slide 12:

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

    (Reference: Established January, 2001)

Slide 13:

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

Slide 14:

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

Slide 15:

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

Slide 16:

One-Stop Service Options

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

Slide 17:

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

Slide 18:

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

Slide 19:

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

Slide 20:

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

Slide 21:

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. http://janweb.icdi.wvu.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

Slide 22:

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)