US Labor Department announces $5 million grant competition to serve homeless female veterans and veterans with families

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service today announced a $5 million grant competition to provide job training, counseling and placement services (including job readiness, and literacy and skills training) to expedite the reintegration of homeless female veterans and veterans with families into the labor force.

We are reminded every day of the tremendous sacrifices made by our service men and women, and by their families. Yet a staggering number of our homeless population are veterans, said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. Reintegrating homeless female veterans and veterans with families into meaningful employment is vital to our goal of ending homelessness among those who have worn our nation's military uniform.

These grants are intended to provide services to assist in reintegrating this subpopulation of veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force, and to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing female veterans and veterans with families.

The Department of Labor is soliciting applications to design programs that will expedite the reintegration of homeless female veterans and veterans with families into the labor force by providing job placement services, job training, counseling, supportive services and other assistance. Successful applicants will be able to express their understanding of the challenges faced by the homeless female veteran and/or homeless veteran with a family. The successful applicant also will be able to demonstrate the development of an established network of service providers to assist homeless female veterans and veterans with families. The closing date for receipt of applications is May 27, 2010.

The solicitation for grant applications is published in today's edition of the Federal Register. For more information, visit http://www.grants.gov and http://www.dol.gov/vets. Potential applicants with questions should call Cassandra Mitchell at 202-693-4570. Press with questions should call the contacts named above.