WASHINGTON -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has created a task force to review programs and suggest ways to increase participation of faith-based and community organizations in its social service outreach.
VA's task force was established in response to the Administration's effort to promote faith-based and community initiatives. Although VA has a long tradition of working with these organizations, the task force will propose new initiatives, develop outreach efforts and examine current procedures, programs and policies.
"Contracting with faith-based and community organizations is nothing new for VA," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. "Since 1987, VA has formed alliances with community-based organizations and together we have worked to break the destructive cycle of homelessness for our veterans. But we intend to expand our efforts. As secretary, I will not rest until everything that can be done is done to relieve homelessness among our Nation's veterans."
More than 95 percent of VA's homeless grants were awarded to community organizations, totaling nearly $49 million. Of those, 21 percent went to faith-based organizations. Twenty-four percent of the organizations that received funds for the purchase of vans were faith-based.
"We will look not only at VA's homeless programs, but also at other policies and practices department-wide," said Pete Dougherty, director of VA's homeless programs, who was selected to head the task force. "We hope to knock down barriers throughout VA that stand in the way of increasing partnerships with faith-based and community organizations that can help America's veterans."
The task force will be made up of VA experts in health care, veterans' benefits and memorial affairs, plus the chaplain's corps, minority affairs office, general counsel, budget and others. The first progress report is due Sept. 14, 2001.
