Washington -- U. S. Representative Neil Abercrombie announced that Network Enterprises, Inc. of Honolulu has been selected for a $278,000 competitive grant from the Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service to provide assistance to Oahu’s estimated 1,200 – 1,500 homeless veterans.

"One of the greatest tragedies in today’s society is that military veterans account for nearly one fourth of our homeless population,” said Abercrombie. “No group of people has given more, and none more deserves our help.  The jobs skills training, job placement, temporary housing and other continuing support services that Network Enterprises will provide under this grant can literally turn people’s lives around."

"We’ve provided services to homeless veterans on Oahu for more than seven years, with a delivery strategy that offers a high level of individualized employment preparation, placement and job retention support,” said Network Enterprises President Roland Talbot.  "We are proud to be among only 80 contractors in the nation selected for this critically-needed work."

In addition to the job training and placement, the grant program provides comprehensive case management services to help homeless vets deal with other significant obstacles to steady employment, including health problems, substance abuse issues, criminal records and such psychiatric diagnoses as post traumatic stress or bipolar disorders and chronic depression.  

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