Homeless and Incarcerated Veterans

Recent grant announcements address the critical issue of homeless and incarcerated veterans. The U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), announces a grant competition to fund at least twelve (12) Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program (IVTP) grants designed to support incarcerated Veterans “at risk” of homelessness. According to the Department of Labor: VETS will have up to $4 million allocated to fund awards under this grant competition. Applicants will be required to design programs which assist eligible incarcerated and/or transitioning incarcerated Veterans who are “at risk” of homelessness, by providing referral and career counseling services, to include job training and placement assistance, job readiness and life skills support services, housing, health care, and other benefits. ...VETS will seek applicants that provide direct services through a case management and counseling approach that network with Federal, State, and local resources for Veteran support programs and that have clear strategies for effectively providing employment and training, retention and/or life skills and job readiness services to incarcerated Veterans. Further, since local and county jails are normally the first location where incarcerated Veterans will be available for potential grantees to focus their outreach and to provide program services, VETS also seeks applicants who are able to deliver proactive service approaches targeted especially toward returning Veterans who recently served overseas. ****** These programs are designed to offer tangible solutions to the critical issues that are challenging the quality of life in various populations. These episodes may be forwarded to government officials (or other interested entities) to let them review solutions oriented discussions.